Laguna Pueblo

The Laguna Pueblo Indians are and speak Keres, the language still no family could be assigned. The Laguna, founded in 1699 is the youngest of all the pueblos in New Mexico. The name is the Spanish term for the lake. The Indian proper name is Kawaik, but its significance is unknown.

History

The Pueblo is located in the southwestern United States, about 50 km west of the city of Albuquerque in New Mexico. It was founded by rebels from Cochiti and Santo Domingo after the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 that had Diego de Vargas in 1694 survives attack on their fortress in La Cieneguilla. Later members of other Pueblos joined them; the clans in Laguna trace their ancestry back to the Acoma, Zuni, San Felipe, Zia, Oraibi, Sandia and Jemez.

Governor Cubero, who visited the Pueblo in the first year, called him San Jose de la Laguna. Under the leadership of Friar Miranda was built in 1706 in the village on a mission.

In 1870, the Presbyterianism were two Americans who were married in Laguna women, distributed in Laguna, which led to bitter antagonisms between conservative elements and converts to the new religion. Built in 1875 to Pueblo a Presbyterian mission and the new religion followers reached the choice of an outsider to the governor of the village. In protest, the Conservatives closed their kivas, packed their religious utensils and left the Pueblo; most of them went to Isleta, where they founded the colony of Oraibi. Some also moved to Mesita. This exodus was Laguna back without religion - oriented leadership.

Life and culture

The tribal leadership in Laguna is perhaps the most progressive of all the pueblos. The substantial payments for uranium mining rights will be invested in school programs and local job creation programs for Indians. An electronic factory in their reserve has evolved into a successful business for the owners and their family. Most Laguna actively participate in tribal elections; who lives outside of the pueblo, uses the postal vote.

Most residents Lagunas earn their living through wage labor, although a small number engaged in some field crops and livestock.

Due to the diverse origin of the population Lagunas, it is not surprising that some of their manual skills to those of other pueblos are very similar. Pottery are indistinguishable from Acoma goods, braided yucca baskets are identical with those from Jemez, while Kachina dolls are similar to those of Zuni. Today, however, a few crafts with the exception of beadwork in Laguna are produced.

The population Lagunas, formerly focused on the real Laguna, distributed today to seven nearby villages: Paguate, Encinal, Paraje, New Laguna, Mesita, Casa Blanca and Seama. The latter municipality contains three suburbs with the odd sounding name Harrisburg, Philadelphia and New York. In the late 20th century, there were approximately 6,760, of which 5,725 permanent residents in the approximately 1666 km ² large reserve.