Tesuque, New Mexico

The Tesuque Pueblo Indians are and speak Tewa, a language from the Kiowa - Tanoan language family. Tesuque is a Spanish alienation of the proper name Tatunge, which means dry place. The Pueblo is located in the southwestern United States in New Mexico, a few miles north of Santa Fe.

History

Tesuque existed in historic times probably in two different places. The first village was three miles west of present-day Pueblos. During the Pueblo Rebellion of 1680 it was abandoned and destroyed originating from the 17th century mission. In Tesuque Pueblo uprising began and the residents took part in the attack on Santa Fe. Subsequently, the Tesuquer distributed to pull to other Tewa Indians by Black Mesa and La Cieneguilla and returned in the early 18th century back to rebuild their village.

Life and culture

The Pueblo Tesuque has retained much of its old way of life; the religious and political leadership is in the hands of two Indian chiefs, the heads of the winter and summer moieties of the village. Nevertheless, they are practical and progressive enough to nominate young people in those powerful secular offices covering business affairs outside of the pueblo.

Tesuque produced very handsome pottery, but disappeared in the early 20th century. The potters began to produce for the American tourist with watercolors painted trinkets made ​​of clay. The most notorious of these is the so-called Tesuque Rain God, which had been originally made ​​as a gift for a candy factory owner from the midwest. He was probably modeled on a figure from ancient Mexico and has no relation to Tesuque, rain or gods. He is today still manufactured and sold.

The U.S. census of 2000 gave 383, of which 165 permanent residents in the approximately 68 -acre reserve.