The Zuni Pueblo   view slideshow

The Zuni Pueblo is nestled in a scenic valley, surrounded by the enchanting mesas, located about 150 miles west of Albuquerque. The main reservation is located in the McKinley and Cibola counties in the western part of New Mexico. The estimated number of acres encompasses about 450,000 acres. The tribe has land holdings in Catron County, New Mexico and Apache County, Arizona, which are not adjoining to the main reservation.

The Zuni (also spelled Zuni) or Aashiwi are a Native American tribe, one of the Pueblo peoples, most of whom live in the Pueblo of Zuni on the Zuni River, a tributary of the Little Colorado River, in western New Mexico Zu?i is 55 km (35 miles) south of Gallup New Mexico and has a population of about 12,000, with over 80% being Native Americans, with 43.0% of the population below the poverty line as defined by the U.S. income standards. However, many of the people do not consider their low income and lifestyle to be poverty.

Culture

Zuni traditionally speak the Zuni language a unique language which is unrelated to the languages of the other Pueblo peoples. The Zuni continue to practice their traditional religion with its regular ceremonies and dances and an independent mythology.

The Zuni Tribal Fair and Rodeo is held the third weekend in August. The Zuni participate in the Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremony.

History

The Zuni, like other Pueblo peoples, are believed to be the descendants of the Ancient Pueblo peoples who lived in the deserts of New Mexico, Arizona Southern Colorado and Utah for centuries. Archaeological evidence shows they have lived in their present location for about 1,300 years. However, before the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 the Zuni lived in six different villages. After the revolt, until 1692 they took refuge in a defensible position atop Dowa Yalanne a steep mesa 5 km (2 miles) southeast of the present Pueblo of Zu?i. Dowa meaning "corn", and Yalanne meaning "mountain." After the establishment of peace and the return of the Spanish the Zuni relocated in their present location, only briefly returning to the mesa top in 1703.