Canyon Road

Walking through the streets of Santa Fe is walking through History.
Each street has stories to tell. Some buildings still hold their secrets behind their walls. Some were the houses of famous personalities and some were the gathering places of unscrupulous affluent residents…

Palace Avenue was the home of the building to welcome all the scientists hired to work on the Manhattan project…1943…yes the project to develop the secret weapons laboratory.

Billy the Kid… yes the famous outlaw of the Southwest was once a resident of on San Francisco Street, where…the jail stood!

Burro Alley, you can’t miss it with its steel burro guarding the entrance! Was once the main trading place of Santa Fe, and also famous for its gambling house owned and managed by the famous (or infamous) La Dona Tules…Interesting character of Santa Fe, if you want to read more about her, Barbara recommends: The wind leaves no Shadows written by Ruth Laughin.

The Plaza: besides being the heart and center of Santa Fe the Plaza was the end of the journey from the Santa Fe Trail (a 19th-century transportation route through central North America that connected Missouri with Santa Fe, NM) and the Camino Real (The Royal Road - an historic road that went from Mexico City to Santa Fe, New Mexico).
Today, the Plaza is a National Historic Landmark and the gathering place for unique events like the renowned Indian Market and Spanish Market.

The Plaza is also the setting of the oldest public building in the US, the Palace of the Governors, where many Indian vendors sell their arts and jewelry under its portal.

From the Plaza few streets will lead you to very interesting churches: the cathedral basilica of St Francis de Assisi built from the plan of the cathedral of Clermont Ferrand (France), the Loretto Chapel, built from the plan of the Ste Chapelle (Paris, France), and St Miguel Mission, the oldest church built in the US in 1610, by the Tlaxcalan Indians of Mexico.
Many shops surround the Plaza where you can find all kinds of ‘souvenirs’, arts, Native American jewelry, and southwestern clothing.

If you are into Art, let me take you to Lincoln Street, where there are three stunning galleries featuring of Native American artists.

Washington Street is the address of the libraries, the public library and the History library: Fray Angelico Chavez History library, on the opposite side of this library you can admire the Inn of the Anasazi, and its very fine architectural style which combines the pueblo style with the Spanish style. This type of architecture is found a little bit all over Santa Fe, but this building is particularly nice.


Then walk up to Canyon Road, which is the ‘street of the Art’. You can spend hours strolling along this most charming street and wandering in the exclusive galleries’ gardens, before taking a break for lunch, dinner or tea and you’ll have the choice of few places for that, right on Canyon Road.

One Gallery-boutique is definitely worth the detour: Nathalie Home.
Nathalie is known for her exquisite taste in all things western, and you will find also beautiful Navajo jewelry, as well as buckle sets and a one of the kind cowboy boot collection.

You can’t miss Paseo de Peralta (Don Diego de Peralta was the third governor of New Mexico), this street almost forms a beltway around the Downtown area, and will lead you to major places like the New Mexico State Capitol (the only round Capitol building in the US), the Farmers Market where you’ll find exclusively products from New Mexico, Site Santa Fe, a contemporary Art Space.

There are so many more other interesting streets to walk around in Santa Fe. You need to come and I’ll guide you…

If you wonder why I didn’t speak about the Historic Route 66…It deserve an article on its own.

Gathering of Nations -Shawl dance

Gathering of Nations - Song by: Eddie Madden

What is a Pow Wow ?

Pow Wow time is the Native American people's way of meeting together, to join in dancing, singing, visiting, renewing old friendships and make new ones.

This is a time to renew thought of the old ways and to preserve a rich heritage.
There are several different stories of how the Pow Wow was started. Some believe that the war dance societies of the Ponca and other Southern Plains tribes were the origin of the Pow Wow.

Another belief is that when the Native Americans were forced onto reservations the government also forced them to have dances for the public to come and see. Before each dance they were lead through the town in a parade, which is the beginning of the Grand Entry.

Pow Wow singers are very important figures in the Native American culture. Without them there would be no dancing. The songs are of many varieties, from religious to war to social.

As various tribes gathered together, they would share their songs, often changing the songs so singers of different tribes could join. With these changes came the use of "vocables" to replace the words of the old songs. Thus, some songs today are sung in vocables with no words.

Yet they still hold special meaning to those who know the song. Many songs are still sung in native tongue either newly composed or revivals of old songs. These songs are reminders to the Indian people of their old ways and rich heritage.

Dancers have always been a very important part of the life of the American Indian. Most dancers seen at Pow Wows today are social dances which might have had different meanings in earlier days. Although dance styles and content have changed, their meaning and importance has not. The outfits worn by the dancers, like the styles of clothing today evolve over time, it is not a stagnant culture, but a vibrant and changing way of life.

Pow Wow are organized by committees that work for weeks before the event. At the Pow Wow, the MC runs the events. The MC works with the Arena Director to keep the Pow Wow organized and running smoothly. These two individuals along with the committee work hard to bring the people together to dance and fellowship together in the circle.

The Pow Wow begins by the Grand Entry. This is the entry of all the people entering the arena. This originally was a parade through the town the Pow Wow was in. Even today in some Pow Wows, these parades are still held. During the Grand Entry, everyone is asked to stand as the flags are brought into the arena. The flags carried generally include the US flag, tribal flags, POW flag, and eagle staffs of various tribes present. These are usually carried by veterans. Native Americans hold the United States flag in an honored position despite the horrible treatment received from this country. The flag has a dual meaning. First it is a way to remember all of the ancestors that fought against this country. It is also the symbol of the United States which Native Americans are now a part. The flag here also reminds people of those people who have fought for this country.

Following the veterans are other important guests of the Pow Wow including tribal chiefs, Princesses, elders, and Pow Wow organizers. Next in line are the men dancers. The men are followed by the women dancers. Once everyone is in the arena, the song ends and a song is sung to honor the flag and the veterans. After a prayer, the dancing resumes, usually with a few Round Dances. After the Round Dances, intertribal dancing songs are sung and everyone dances to the beat of the drum.

Article from Paul G. (Powwows.com)

Horse Spirit in the Wilderness

Whether you are an expert horseback rider or a beginner: you'll learn packing techniques, map orienteering and wilderness hoof care, while listening to Joe's stories about The Buffalo soldiers, miners and Pueblo Indians who frequented these remote woods in centuries past.

Horse Spirit in the Wilderness
With an Apache Perspective

April 15 - April 17 , 2010

The Gila Wilderness

Pristine mountains, forest, rangeland and protected desert; this is the Gila National Forest.

This area is fascinating for its changing landscape; you pass through steep mountains and luscious forests of Spruce, Douglas fir, Aspens, Oaks and Cactus. And suddenly you are in a rich plain where pronghorn are grazing. The hot Springs are extremely pleasant and so welcome after a long day of hiking and discovery!

Gila was the first US wilderness area, established in 1924.

The Gila Mountains and forest were home to the Chiricahua Apache people. Legendary leader Geronimo was born in the 1820's by the Gila River, and with other Apache leaders, the Chiricahua Apaches joined forces to drive all intruders out of their lands.

Gila forest is also well known for the Cliff dwellings built by the Mogollon people during the 13th century (see did you know?)

Mogollon people were hunters and farmers. Many rooms of the cliff dwellings were used for food storage, and are found at the deeper end of the cliff dwellings.

Gila National Forest, is a paradise for horseback riding, with its thousands of unspoiled mountains and forest. And I strongly suggest that you experience it from an Apache perspective, with a Native American guide extensively experienced in horseback riding and backpacking expeditions.

If you want to visit off the beaten path and be surrounded by stunning landscapes, history, and have an opportunity to learn about Native American culture, come to this beautiful area. Gila National Forest is located in the Southwest of New Mexico, and is one of the wonders of this "land of enchantment!"

Sedona - A Dream Trip

The rock formations shine in coral shades, flamingo pink, bronze, purple and burgundy depending on the time of day. The vivid colors of "red rock country" are due to iron content in the sandstone and limestone.
The first nomadic Indians felt a spiritual connection with these picks, especially with the Boynton Canyon, a sacred place to the Navajo, Apache Yavapai and Hopi.

Located between the parched south of Arizona and the mountains surrounding Flagstaff, Sedona has always attracted people who are turning to spirituality. Who does not feel admiration and fear in emerging from a spring blizzard, from the National 89A, to find 1.8 billion years of erosion?

At the end of Oak Creek Canyon, a panorama of red hills, sheer cliffs and peaks opens like a diorama revealing the earth’s past - which recalls how the forces of nature are powerful, so powerful that some say places like Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock and Airport Mesa channel and amplify the energy coming from inside the Earth. The Indians saw in these places the gates of the spiritual world.

New Agers have coined the term "Vortex" to design these energy locations deemed to facilitate prayer, meditation and healing.