Native American Empires

Since moving to the Southwest (from New York), my newfound exposure to Native American peoples and cultures has made me realize how little I know about them. American History, as it is typically taught, left me with the notion that America was discovered as a vast unsettled land with scattered, sparse tribes of Native Americans roaming it. However, the truth about Native American history shatters that misimpression. The current issue (May 2007) of National Geographic has a revealing article on the impact of settlers on Native American peoples in Jamestown entitled "America, Found & Lost." It is a powerful insightul reading for anyone who simply wants a more accurate accounting of our history. I'll leave you with an telling quote from this fascinating article:

"Much of what we learned in grade school about the New World encountered by the colonists at Jamestown turns out to be wrong. In movies and textbooks the colonists are often depicted as arriving in a pristine forest of ancient trees, small bands of Indiand gliding, silent as ghosts, beneath the canopy. But the idea that the English were "settlers: of land that was unsettled before they arrived is complete nonsense. In fact, three English ships landed in the middle of a small but rapidly expanding Indian empire called Tsenacomoco." Worthy reading! An excellent online multi-media version of this article is also provided by National Geographic.

La Quinta Inn 2510 West Greenway Road, Phoenix AZ

Red Chile Flavored Pistachios . . . Yum!

I was in White Sands, New Mexico this past week, and had a chance to sample a product that should make New Mexico proud. "Heart of the Desert" Red Chile Flavored Pistachios are grown and prepared locally in Alamagordo, New Mexico. I discovered this treat through a recommendation by the cashier at the White Sands Gift Shop. Well, they are simply delicious! Red Chile is a perfect match for local pistachios, resulting in a healthy snack with a bit of a kick! Try them. "Heart of the Desert" has online ordering for their products if you don't see them in stores.

The Grand Canyon Meets the Male Ego . . .

In exploring the southwest United States this past week, a highlight has been a visit to the Grand Canyon (Arizona, USA). I always find it a bit amusing how the male ego will adopt its overbearing ways to any environment. At the Grand Canyon, the male ego is usually manifested in the attempt to prove one's manliness by getting as close as possible to the edge of the canyon. I saw a rather sad example of this when one man insisted on going right to the edge of one unprotected area while reducing his fearful wife to tears and tremors, as she pleaded with him not to do so. He insisted that the only way to get a true panoramic photo was by going right to the edge. Evidently he had promised his wife beforehand that he would not do so, as she kept begging him to remember his promise. It was a sad display, and a clear reminder why over 600 recorded deaths have occurred in the Grand Canyon since the 1870's. Those deaths are in most cases young, healthy males who were simply overconfident and arrogantly disobeyed the rules. It seems the male ego never takes a holiday!

A Sad Reflection . . .

Traveling through the southwestern United States (as I've done this past week), I cannot help but reflect on how much of human history can only be told through the vocabulary of violence and greed. New Mexico, like other southwestern states, is littered with the remnants of broken Native American cultures; A sad reminder of mans' inhumanity to man.

Imagine having over 95% of your population wiped out through a campaign of genocide. The few that are left are forcibly moved to isolated parts of a country that was once theirs. Economies are destroyed. Health care and education are reduced to subsistance levels. Survival now depends on government handouts. This is the plight of Native American peoples.

Even in our modern "enlightened" times, little has changed. Native American cultures exist as a form of human curio, for the entertainment of vacationers. The most prominent characteristic of modern Native American economy is the gambling casino, an exploitative repository for one of the worlds' great vices.

How would you feel if this was the recent history of your people, your family? One consistently recurring lesson of history is the failure of genuine benevolence in human rulership. In all ages good government has constantly been foiled by self-interest, shortsightedness, greed, corruption, nepotism, and especially the lust to obtain and retain power. God’s Word, the Bible, correctly describes the result of all human rule, saying: “Man has dominated man to his injury.” (Ecclesiastes 8:9) To the thinking traveler, that lesson rings clear.

Taos In The Spring . . .

Taos, New Mexico is usually abuzz with activity during the winter ski season. The spring is off-season, with few tourists and a slower pace. However, to my eye, Taos is best in the spring. The colorful rebirth of spring and mild weather make it a landscape photographers delight. I find it a wonderful weekend getaway from Albuquerque when my eye yearns for a bit more foilage and fauna. By the way, I discovered a wonderful local eatery in Taos. The Guadalajara Grill is popular with the locals of Mexican heritage (a good sign that the food is delicious), with tasty New Mexican standards like burritos and tacos. The setting is casual, and the food so good that I've eaten there three times in two days. It's that good. My favorite is the shrimp cocktail. Rich with shrimp and bits of avocado, onions, and cilantro in a tangy tomato soup, it makes the perfect light meal. It is on the main strip in Taos at 822 Paseo del Pueblo Norte. Good, cheap eats!

The photo above shows an art Gallery along Paseo del Pueblo Norte in the historic section of Taos, New Mexico. Photo by Donald Peterson

A Lesson Learned in Taos . . .

I decided to spend a couple of days in Taos, New Mexico, enjoying the spring scenery. Taos, about a two hour drive from Albuquerque, is known primarily as a ski resort. However, it is also a lovely year-round getaway with great restaurants, galleries, and oodles of southwestern style. It is here that I learned a good lesson that I will pass on to other travelers. I booked a room at the Hotel Don Fernando De Taos, one of the better hotels in Taos, and got a rate of $78 per night from priceline.com (a total of $90.00 per night including fees). Of course, since I booked with Priceline I assumed that I had the lowest possible rate. After all, William Shatner, the "Priceline negotiator" makes it so! To my surprise, upon checking in, I learned that had I booked directly with the hotel, the rate would be $62.00 per night. What happened to my rock bottom priceline.com rate Mr. Shatner? As Spock would say, "This is illogical!"

The hotel concierge told me something that I will always do from now on. Before going through Priceline or any other hotel online booking service, check the hotel website first. And, call the hotel to see if there are any special rates you can take advantage of. Finally, compare that info with the rates on the online hotel booking websites. Great advice! The money I could have saved by booking directly would have bought two nice dinners!

By the way, a quick review of the Hotel Don Fernando De Taos (Taos, New Mexico). The hotels' reception area, lounge and restaurant have an impressive adobe architecture and decor. However, the rooms do not carry that romantic southwestern style. They are clean and spacious (as least the room I'm in, #205), but look like typical mid-level hotel chain rooms. The furniture barely qualifies as southwestern style. My dream of being surrounded with rustic adobe inspired bedding, furniture and artwork was deferred. Still, it is a clean, comfortable room. I'll be posting more photos of my Taos visit soon on ABQStyle.com!

The photo above, from an earler visit to Taos, show a sample of the warm adobe style architecture in Taos.

New Mexico's Wild Horses

You see them grazing on public lands that surround Albuquerque. Indeed, they are one of the most significant reminders of the cowboy and ranching heritage of New Mexico. The wild horses that have survived on the New Mexican range are a genetic and historic remnant of the Old West. The characteristics that were important in the Old West days are still found in our wild horses and burros: strength, endurance, and reliability. They are medium to heavy boned, carry themselves in a collected manner, and are surefooted over rough terrain. Adopters find gentled wild horses to be a smooth ride, capable of performing all day, and burros are reliable pack and companion animals. Their only natural predator is the mountain lion. In order to maintain the wild horse population at ecologically sustainable levels, the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act was passed, unanimously, through Congress and signed by former President Nixon on December 15, 1971. It became Public Law 92-195, which protects wild horses and burros within designated territories on both Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands.

The photo above shows wild horses along a stretch of old Route 66 between Albuquerque and Grants, New Mexico.