Jornada Research Institute

In a program sponsored by the New Mexico Humanities Council, an Anthropologist and Linguist work with the local Piro tribe in understanding their past. Reaching back in time the Piro Puebloans were a powerful tribe that resided in a number of villages along the Rio Grande. While many people are not familiar with them the first Spaniards to enter New Mexico journeyed through their homeland. The Piro moved south during the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. Descendant Piro populations now reside in Las Cruces in two political groups. One of them calls itself the Piro-Manso-Tiwa Tribe of Guadalupe Pueblo. Members wish to reconnect with their traditions and language. Scholars seek to examine, understand, and document this process of revitalization and reconstruction of the language and traditions as descendant populations fight for their indigenous identity. The program includes video documentation of dances, songs, and chants, recitation of historically documented words, and modes of identifying traditional resource collection areas.

Look for the free public presentation by the Piro Puebloans and the Anthropologist on February 7, 2015, 1:00-3:00 pm at the Farm and Ranch Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces, NM 88011, (575) 522-4100. For more information call Deni Seymour at (505) 934-3364.