Zuni

Zuni
The
wind rushing, whispering through red horizons and pine trees as the sun pierces
the darkness while early birds, both man and animal, awaken to begin their day.
The heat of adobe ovens warms the crisp cold and children run and play. The
maroon adobe ovens are heated by the women as they prepare a feast. Isolated
from everyone most of the day, the men partake in selfless, ancient, and highly
regarded practices. As night comes the dancers emerge as different persons, not
themselves but as warriors, all with their own unique traits that define them
from the rest. As the night dances begin, kivas house the dancers in a warm
cozy shelter while spectators observe inside the adobe house, while others
stand outside, watching from the windows. This wonderful sight will have
intrigued you as an individual, to wonder how this all came to be, the Zuni Pueblo.
Zuni,
a land enriched with history and culture, is located about 130 miles west of
Albuquerque, New Mexico, and 30 miles south of Gallup, New Mexico and has
beautiful scenery that will be memorable. The Zuni culture and lifestyle isn’t
similar to city life or any life that you would expect. The Zuni’s have an
origin story that I was told throughout my life and I’ve also found another
origin story online. “The Zunis were created in the fourth world. Their
immortal gods led them up through the third, second, and first worlds into the
light of day. They emerged deep inside a canyon somewhere along the Colorado
River. After the people had washed the slime from their bodies and split the
webs between their fingers and toes, they at last appeared the way they look
today. (Ferguson, “Zuni Origins and Migrations”) The following story is similar
but has different context in how they came to be and has more detail. In a
version of the Zuni creation story told to anthropologist Ruth Benedict, people
initially dwelt crowded tightly together in total darkness in a place deep in
the earth known as the fourth world. The daylight world then had hills and
streams but no people to live there or to present prayer sticks to Awonawilona,
the Sun and creator. Awonawilona took pity on the people and his two sons were
stirred to lead them to the daylight world. The sons, who have human features,
located the opening to the fourth world in the southwest, but they were forced
to pass through the progressively dimming first, second and third worlds before
reaching the overcrowded and blackened fourth world. The people, blinded by the
darkness, identified the two brothers as strangers by touch and called them
their bow priests. The people expressed their eagerness to leave to the bow
priests, and the priests of the north, west, south and east who were also consulted
agreed.
To prepare for the journey, four seeds were
planted by Awonawilona's sons, and four trees sprang from them: a pine, a
spruce, a silver spruce and an aspen. The trees quickly grew to full size, and
the bow priests broke branches from them and passed them to the people. Then
the bow priests made a prayer stick from a branch of each tree. They plunged
the first, the prayer stick made of pine, into the ground and lightening
sounded as it quickly grew all the way to the third world. The people were told
that the time had come and to gather all their belongings and they climbed up
it to a somewhat lighter world but were still blinded. They asked if this is
where they were to live and the bow priests said, "Not yet". After
staying four days, they traveled to the second world in similar fashion: the
spruce prayer stick was planted in the earth and when it grew tall enough the
people climbed it to the next world above them. And again, after four days they
climbed the length of silver spruce prayer stick to the first world, but here
they could see themselves for the first time because the sky glowed from a
dawn-like red light. They saw they were each covered with filth and a green
slime. Their hands and feet were webbed and they had horns and tails, but no
mouths or anuses. But like each previous emergence, they were told this was not
to be their final home.
On
their fourth day in the first world, the bow priests planted the last prayer
stick, the one made of aspen. Thunder again sounded, the prayer stick stretched
through the hole to the daylight world, and the people climbed one last time.
When they all had emerged, the bow priests pointed out the Sun, Awonawilona,
and urged the people to look upon him despite his brightness. Unaccustomed to
the intense light, the people cried and sunflowers sprang from the earth where
their tears fell. After four days, the people traveled on, and the bow priests
decided they needed to learn to eat so they planted corn fetishes in the fields
and when these had multiplied and grown, harvested it and gave the harvest to
the men to bring home to their wives. The bow priests were saddened to see the
people were smelling the corn but were unable to eat it because they had no
mouths. So when they were asleep, the bow priests sharpened a knife with a red
whetstone and cut mouths in the people's faces. The next morning they were able
to eat, but by evening they were uncomfortable because they could not defecate.
That night when they were asleep the bow priests sharpened their knife on a
soot whetstone and cut them all anuses. The next day the people felt better and
tried new ways to eat their corn, grinding it, pounding, and molding it into
porridge and corncakes. But they were unable to clean the corn from their
webbed hands, so that evening as they slept the bow priests cut fingers and
toes into their hands and feet. The people were pleased when they realized
their hands and feet worked better, and the bow priests decided to make one
last change. That night as they slept, the bow priests took a small knife and
removed the people's horns and tails. When the people awoke, they were afraid
of the change at first, but they lost their fear when sun came out and grew
pleased that the bow priests were finally finished.” (Zuni Mythology,
Wikipedia)
The
sacred Shalako dance takes place during December. It’s a time when the whole
village and spectators gather to watch the masked dancers perform. In the past,
spectators or “outsiders” weren’t allowed to watch the tradition. Today they are
more lenient. The sacred Shalako dance take place during the winter solstice
and the whole purpose of Shalako is to bring blessings for the people and the
land to prosper. Each year, a family volunteers to build Shalako homes, depending
on whether the holy men approve. Once they have approved, six families will
build homes for the all six Shalako. Each kiva chooses the men who are going to
dance inside the homes during the Shalako dance. They have to dance the sacred
masked dances. Only the men that have been initiated into a kiva can dance. The
Shalako dance is mainly for blessing for the New Year to come. The dancers pray
for blessings on the people’s homes, families and for their crops, and their
agriculture.
Shalako
is the biggest sacred ceremony of all. A total of six men are chosen to become
Shalako. It is a yearlong preparation of strict training, in which they have to
fast and learn the prayers of the elders from ancient time to the present day.
These ancient prayers are not written down. They are passed down and taught
orally to the Shalako. Each Shalako goes to one of the six new houses; there they
receive the sacred prayer plume and blessing from the holy men. It brings great
blessing to the Zuni Pueblo and to the families that build the houses. At the
end, the Shalako have to dance all night until the next morning then the Long Horn
dancer will come and start chanting the prayers from the beginning of time to
the present day. Then the next day towards the midafternoon, all six Shalako
will come from the sacred mountains or heavens and they will race at the Zuni
River bed which is in the center of the pueblo. It is said that if all the
Shalako can race without falling down then the people and the land will be
blessed and be prosperous. However, if one of the Shalako falls down then the
village will not be blessed and then anyone who has seen the Shalako fall will
have to run away from the races because the masked warriors will chase the
people to try to whip them, because the people aren’t supposed to see the
Shalako fall down. Shalako is the biggest and most sacred event for the Zuni
people.
One day, my parents and I went to watch the Shalako
races. During that time I would usually stand on top of a roof to get a better
view, but this time I was sitting on my dad’s shoulders. The Shalako had
entered the river bed and they were preparing to start. The races were going
well until one of the Shalako had dropped one of the prayer plumes, and then
the people all around us responded with screaming and running away. My dad too
had run with me on his shoulders and my mom also ran with us because we surely
didn’t want to get whipped. To have experienced this was a fun experience and
one that I will not forget.
Witnessing the
beautiful scenic views along with the interesting practices of the Zuni Pueblo
will surely be an unforgettable experience because you will experience their
history, culture and religion. I strongly encourage you to take a drive and
visit Zuni during one of these ceremonial events. The Zuni Pueblo truly
represents “The Land of Enchantment”.
Zuni
The
wind rushing, whispering through red horizons and pine trees as the sun pierces
the darkness while early birds, both man and animal, awaken to begin their day.
The heat of adobe ovens warms the crisp cold and children run and play. The
maroon adobe ovens are heated by the women as they prepare a feast. Isolated
from everyone most of the day, the men partake in selfless, ancient, and highly
regarded practices. As night comes the dancers emerge as different persons, not
themselves but as warriors, all with their own unique traits that define them
from the rest. As the night dances begin, kivas house the dancers in a warm
cozy shelter while spectators observe inside the adobe house, while others
stand outside, watching from the windows. This wonderful sight will have
intrigued you as an individual, to wonder how this all came to be, the Zuni Pueblo.
Zuni,
a land enriched with history and culture, is located about 130 miles west of
Albuquerque, New Mexico, and 30 miles south of Gallup, New Mexico and has
beautiful scenery that will be memorable. The Zuni culture and lifestyle isn’t
similar to city life or any life that you would expect. The Zuni’s have an
origin story that I was told throughout my life and I’ve also found another
origin story online. “The Zunis were created in the fourth world. Their
immortal gods led them up through the third, second, and first worlds into the
light of day. They emerged deep inside a canyon somewhere along the Colorado
River. After the people had washed the slime from their bodies and split the
webs between their fingers and toes, they at last appeared the way they look
today. (Ferguson, “Zuni Origins and Migrations”) The following story is similar
but has different context in how they came to be and has more detail. In a
version of the Zuni creation story told to anthropologist Ruth Benedict, people
initially dwelt crowded tightly together in total darkness in a place deep in
the earth known as the fourth world. The daylight world then had hills and
streams but no people to live there or to present prayer sticks to Awonawilona,
the Sun and creator. Awonawilona took pity on the people and his two sons were
stirred to lead them to the daylight world. The sons, who have human features,
located the opening to the fourth world in the southwest, but they were forced
to pass through the progressively dimming first, second and third worlds before
reaching the overcrowded and blackened fourth world. The people, blinded by the
darkness, identified the two brothers as strangers by touch and called them
their bow priests. The people expressed their eagerness to leave to the bow
priests, and the priests of the north, west, south and east who were also consulted
agreed.
To prepare for the journey, four seeds were
planted by Awonawilona's sons, and four trees sprang from them: a pine, a
spruce, a silver spruce and an aspen. The trees quickly grew to full size, and
the bow priests broke branches from them and passed them to the people. Then
the bow priests made a prayer stick from a branch of each tree. They plunged
the first, the prayer stick made of pine, into the ground and lightening
sounded as it quickly grew all the way to the third world. The people were told
that the time had come and to gather all their belongings and they climbed up
it to a somewhat lighter world but were still blinded. They asked if this is
where they were to live and the bow priests said, "Not yet". After
staying four days, they traveled to the second world in similar fashion: the
spruce prayer stick was planted in the earth and when it grew tall enough the
people climbed it to the next world above them. And again, after four days they
climbed the length of silver spruce prayer stick to the first world, but here
they could see themselves for the first time because the sky glowed from a
dawn-like red light. They saw they were each covered with filth and a green
slime. Their hands and feet were webbed and they had horns and tails, but no
mouths or anuses. But like each previous emergence, they were told this was not
to be their final home.
On
their fourth day in the first world, the bow priests planted the last prayer
stick, the one made of aspen. Thunder again sounded, the prayer stick stretched
through the hole to the daylight world, and the people climbed one last time.
When they all had emerged, the bow priests pointed out the Sun, Awonawilona,
and urged the people to look upon him despite his brightness. Unaccustomed to
the intense light, the people cried and sunflowers sprang from the earth where
their tears fell. After four days, the people traveled on, and the bow priests
decided they needed to learn to eat so they planted corn fetishes in the fields
and when these had multiplied and grown, harvested it and gave the harvest to
the men to bring home to their wives. The bow priests were saddened to see the
people were smelling the corn but were unable to eat it because they had no
mouths. So when they were asleep, the bow priests sharpened a knife with a red
whetstone and cut mouths in the people's faces. The next morning they were able
to eat, but by evening they were uncomfortable because they could not defecate.
That night when they were asleep the bow priests sharpened their knife on a
soot whetstone and cut them all anuses. The next day the people felt better and
tried new ways to eat their corn, grinding it, pounding, and molding it into
porridge and corncakes. But they were unable to clean the corn from their
webbed hands, so that evening as they slept the bow priests cut fingers and
toes into their hands and feet. The people were pleased when they realized
their hands and feet worked better, and the bow priests decided to make one
last change. That night as they slept, the bow priests took a small knife and
removed the people's horns and tails. When the people awoke, they were afraid
of the change at first, but they lost their fear when sun came out and grew
pleased that the bow priests were finally finished.” (Zuni Mythology,
Wikipedia)
The
sacred Shalako dance takes place during December. It’s a time when the whole
village and spectators gather to watch the masked dancers perform. In the past,
spectators or “outsiders” weren’t allowed to watch the tradition. Today they are
more lenient. The sacred Shalako dance take place during the winter solstice
and the whole purpose of Shalako is to bring blessings for the people and the
land to prosper. Each year, a family volunteers to build Shalako homes, depending
on whether the holy men approve. Once they have approved, six families will
build homes for the all six Shalako. Each kiva chooses the men who are going to
dance inside the homes during the Shalako dance. They have to dance the sacred
masked dances. Only the men that have been initiated into a kiva can dance. The
Shalako dance is mainly for blessing for the New Year to come. The dancers pray
for blessings on the people’s homes, families and for their crops, and their
agriculture.
Shalako
is the biggest sacred ceremony of all. A total of six men are chosen to become
Shalako. It is a yearlong preparation of strict training, in which they have to
fast and learn the prayers of the elders from ancient time to the present day.
These ancient prayers are not written down. They are passed down and taught
orally to the Shalako. Each Shalako goes to one of the six new houses; there they
receive the sacred prayer plume and blessing from the holy men. It brings great
blessing to the Zuni Pueblo and to the families that build the houses. At the
end, the Shalako have to dance all night until the next morning then the Long Horn
dancer will come and start chanting the prayers from the beginning of time to
the present day. Then the next day towards the midafternoon, all six Shalako
will come from the sacred mountains or heavens and they will race at the Zuni
River bed which is in the center of the pueblo. It is said that if all the
Shalako can race without falling down then the people and the land will be
blessed and be prosperous. However, if one of the Shalako falls down then the
village will not be blessed and then anyone who has seen the Shalako fall will
have to run away from the races because the masked warriors will chase the
people to try to whip them, because the people aren’t supposed to see the
Shalako fall down. Shalako is the biggest and most sacred event for the Zuni
people.
One day, my parents and I went to watch the Shalako
races. During that time I would usually stand on top of a roof to get a better
view, but this time I was sitting on my dad’s shoulders. The Shalako had
entered the river bed and they were preparing to start. The races were going
well until one of the Shalako had dropped one of the prayer plumes, and then
the people all around us responded with screaming and running away. My dad too
had run with me on his shoulders and my mom also ran with us because we surely
didn’t want to get whipped. To have experienced this was a fun experience and
one that I will not forget.
Witnessing the
beautiful scenic views along with the interesting practices of the Zuni Pueblo
will surely be an unforgettable experience because you will experience their
history, culture and religion. I strongly encourage you to take a drive and
visit Zuni during one of these ceremonial events. The Zuni Pueblo truly
represents “The Land of Enchantment”.
Ferguson, T.J, “Zuni
Origins and Migrations.” Southwest Cross
Roads, University of Oklahoma Press, October 9, 2011
http://southwestcrossroads.org/record.php?num=43

“Zuni Mythology.” Wikipedia, 8 July 2011. Web 19 Oct.
2011.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuni_mythology