SURVIVING COLUMBUS: THE STORY OF THE PUEBLO PEOPLE (TV)

Summary

This special Peabody Award-winning documentary from KNME-TV in Albuquerque, New Mexico, chronicles the history of the Pueblo Native American Indians, focusing on the Pueblo struggle to defend its culture, religion, and land against Spanish, Mexican, and U.S. government invasions. The documentary examines the crimes committed against the Pueblos from a perspective that eschews traditional U.S. history books. Based on a narrative written by Simon Ortiz, the program also features original poetry by Ortiz and Rina Swentzell, footage of traditional dances and rituals, and archival footage. Topics addressed include the early history of the pueblo people; the importance to the Pueblos of nature, the land, and oral histories; the results of Columbus's discovery and the Pueblos' first contact with Caucasians; slave raids on the tribes and the grisly punishments against Pueblos who rebelled against the onslaught of Spaniards in the 17th century; the Native Americans' unsuccessful rebellion and their first successful revolt against Europeans, known as the Seige on Santa Fe; the subsequent departure of the Spaniards and the rise of Apache raids on horseback; the Spaniards' return with the supposed "bloodless" De Vargas expedition; the unification of some tribes and Spaniards in the 18th century to endure Apache attacks; the Spaniards' legal recognition of Pueblo ownership of land; attempts to undermine the Pueblo religion, leading to secret rituals that still survive; growing "detribalized" settlements that bridge the Spanish and Native American worlds; the U.S. invasion of Native American territory in the 19th century; the 1847 rebellion in Taos Pueblo, the Pueblos' last armed struggle; Native Americans' experiences with slavery; the U.S. government's claim that the Pueblo religion is illegal, which is arguably an unconstitutional denial of freedom of religion; attempts to secure Native American rights; the relocation and termination policies of the 1950s; and the "detribalization" of Native Americans throughout the 20th century. Other topics include some attempts by the U.S. government to return sacred land that was stolen from the Pueblos, the changing role of Pueblo women, and how the loss of native languages threatens the Pueblos heritage for future generations. Numerous Pueblo and Hopi Native Americans share insight into their culture's history, including narrator Conroy Chino, Swentzell, Myrna Chino, poet Ortiz, anthropologist Dr. Alfonso Ortiz, Dr. Dave Warren, Gail Bird, Joe S. Sando, Edmund J. Ladd, Esther Martinez, Agnes Dill, sociologist Dr. Tom‡s Atencio, Glenabah Martinez, Regis Pecos, Emory Sekaquaptewa, Gov. Herman Agoyo of the San Juan Pueblo, Dr. Greg Cajete, Dr. Benito Cordova, Gilbert Suazo, John Pino, John Reiner, Anacita Taliman, Dr. Joseph H. Suina, Ron Solimon, Edward Beyuka, Gov. Robert Lewis of the Zuni Pueblo, Mary Waconda, Charlotte Bradley, Rachelle Agoyo, Mary Zuni, Domingo Otero, Christina Otero, Doris Chavez, Alex Seowtewa, and Laurie Weahkee. In addition, dramatic readings are culled from various historic documents, including excerpts from 16th-century testimonies by Fray Marcos de Niza, Pedro de Casta–eda, Luis Gasco de Velasco and Gov. Juan de O–ate; 17th-century testimonies by Father BartolomŽ Bernal, Pedro Naranjo of the San Felipe Pueblo, Gov. Antonio de Otermin, and Antonio, a captured Tewa Warrior; an 18th-century report on Apache raids by Father Juan de Paz; and 20th-century reports by Tulto Torleno of the Taos Pueblo, Pablo Abeita, and the All Indian Pueblo Council. Includes a promo for a video copy of the program. No commercials. (This program is closed-captioned.)

Acquisition and cataloging of this program was made possible by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Details

• NETWORK: KNME-TV (Albuquerque, NM) / PBS
• DATE: November 30, 1991
• RUNNING TIME: 1:55:14
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: T:29241
• GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
• SUBJECT HEADING: Apache Indians; Indians of North America - Civil rights; Indians of North America - Government relations; Indians of North America - History; Indians of North America - Religion and mythology; Indians of North America - Rites and ceremonies; Indians of North America - Wars; Genocide; Hopi Indians; Land tenure; Pueblo Indians; Slavery; Spain - Exploring expeditions; U S - Civil rights; Indigenous Peoples Collection
• SERIES RUN: PBS - TV, 1992
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• Dale Kruzic … Executive Producer
• George Burdeau … Co-Executive Producer
• Larry Walsh … Producer, Writer, Program concept and initial development by
• Edmund J. Ladd … Producer
• Diane Reyna … Director
• Shirley Casados … Co-Executive for Production, For KNME-TV
• Nedra C. Darling … Co-Executive for Production , For Institute of American Indian Arts
• Simon Ortiz … Writer, Based on a narrative written by, Original poetry written by
• Rina Swentzell … Writer, Original poetry written by
• Chris Purrington … Composer, Performer, Original music composed and performed by
• Peter Garcia … Performer, Traditional music performed by
• Chester Mahooty … Performer, Traditional music performed by
• Ben Daitz … Instrumentalist
• Ken Keppler … Instrumentalist
• Jeanie McLerie … Instrumentalist
• Van Houten, Gretchen … Instrumentalist
• Joyce Yoxall … Instrumentalist
• Fernando Echeverri … Instrumentalist
• Acoma Inter-Cultural Dancers … Performers, Traditional dances by
• Peter Garcia Dancers … Perfomers, Traditional dances by
• Flying Eagle Dancers … Performers, Traditional dances by
• San Juan Matachina Dance Group … Performers, Traditional dances by
• Gregory Cajete … Researcher
• Joe S. Sando … Researcher
• Morgan Thomas … Researcher
• Conroy Chino … Narrator
• James Hena … Cast, Voice
• Robert Hartung … Cast, Voice
• Eliseo Casillas … Cast, Voice
• Pablo Abeita
• Herman Agoyo
• Rachelle Agoyo
• Antonio (Native American Indian)
• Tom‡s Atencio
• BartolomŽ Bernal
• Edward Beyuka
• Gail Bird
• Charlotte Bradley
• Greg Cajete
• Doris Chavez
• Myrna Chino
• Benito Cordova
• De Vargas, Diego
• Agnes Dill
• de Casta–eda, Pedro
• de Niza, Fray Marcos
• de O–ate, Juan
• de Otermin, Antonio
• de Paz, Juan
• de Velasco, Luis Gasco
• Edmund J. Ladd
• Robert Lewis
• Esther Martinez
• Glenabah Martinez
• Pedro Naranjo
• Alfonso Ortiz
• Christina Otero
• Domingo Otero
• Regis Pecos
• John Pino
• John Reiner
• Joe S. Sando
• Emory Sekaquaptewa
• Alex Seowtewa
• Ron Solimon
• Gilbert Suazo
• Joseph H. Suina
• Anacita Taliman
• Tulto Torleno
• Mary Waconda
• Dave Warren
• Laurie Weahkee
• Mary Zuni