Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico
The residents of Santa Clara Pueblo Indians and speak Tewa, a language from the Tano Kiowa language family. Santa Clara is the Spanish name for Sancta Clara. The Spaniards named their missions to saints of the Catholic Church. The Indian proper name is Ka ` po, the meaning is unknown. The Pueblo is located in the Southwestern USA, near Los Alamos in northern New Mexico.
History
According to their tradition, the Tewa come from the underworld and are in Sip ophe surfaced, a small lake in the land of sand dunes near Alamosa, Colorado. Before they settled in the area today, so say the Tewa, they had inhabited several villages in the Ojo Caliente area and also clip homes in Puye. Santa Clara is one of six Tewa -speaking pueblos in New Mexico and was built in the 14th century. The Spaniards erected around 1620 a church in the village. The present church in 1918 stands on the site of the old building.
During the Pueblo Rebellion of 1680 the residents attacked a small detachment of Spanish soldiers in the Pueblo of, fastened their Pueblo against possible attacks by the Spaniards and then besieged together with their allies Santa Fe. Later they moved to other Tewa on the fortified Black Mesa. Some went west to the Zuni and Hopi; after the reconquest of New Mexico by the Spaniards, many returned to rebuild their village.
In the late 19th century, Santa Clara divided into opposing camps, because there had been differences of opinion on the acceptability of government programs. The proponents were accused of betraying the traditions and the slander of witchcraft was rampant.
The adoption of a tribal constitution in 1935 has contributed much to the settlement of these disputes. The ceremonial life of the village is now determined by the religious leadership, while the worldly affairs are in the hands of progressive, educated young women and men. This scheme was so successful that many of the young people disenfranchised from the neighboring pueblos of Santa Clara spearheaded an example of how things could run when the religious leaders of their villages would stay out of the worldly things.
Culture and lifestyle
Santa Clara and San Ildefonso are famous for their polished black pottery. An estimated seventy-five potters produce large quantities of dishes, pots, plates, and a seemingly endless variety of figures. Polished red and colorful ceramics are also available.
As in most pueblos agriculture has been displaced from wage labor as the main source of income. Many residents of Santa Clara's work in Los Alamos.
The tribe gets money from business ventures in Española and the low entrance fees, visitors to the Santa Clara Canyon and the Puye Cliffs pay. The U.S. census of 2000 showed 1,104, including 750 permanent residents, where some 185 km ² reserve.