Surviving Columbus: The Story of the Pueblo People; Interview with Geronima Abieta Esther Martinez

the Ok, let's get off. What do you appreciate for me? What do you appreciate about being a Pueblo? I appreciate everything what they do in the Pueblo. What are some of the things that are done in the Pueblo?

Well, they have dances, you know, in the winter time, so when I was young, I used to take part of it too. But not anymore, no, I can't. What kind of dances did you dance? Some would differ in kind of a low deer dance, turtle dance, pipe dance, eagle dance, butterfly dance, they have different kinds of dances in the Pueblo. What advice would you share with the younger people? What advice would you give to the younger people, to the kids that are growing up now? Well, I see it's better to teach them how to respect the older people.

That's what I think. It should be taught how to be respectful like we did when we were young. Where did you get your education? I got my education here at the same one day school until fourth grade. And then after that, I went to the boarding, Indian boarding school in Sanipay, where I learned more English. Oh, here we teach a talk to us in English, but I guess we were not very interested in learning. So, we learned English in Sanipay boarding school because children from different places are there.

And they don't talk the same language, so we have to talk to them in English. So, there's where I learned more English at the boarding school. How do you feel about non-Indians wanting to know about the Pueblo way of life? Oh, I don't see it's right for them to... Oh, just a second part. If she had a group of young children in the room or teenagers, what would she tell them?

Well, I'll try to teach them how to be respectful. Why would you tell young people? Well, I would say that...

Oh, try to talk to them how to be respectful, to respect older people and not be bothering anything of theirs. What do you feel about non-Indians wanting to know about the Indian way of life? I don't see it, it would be right for them to find out things from the Indians. That's what I think. Can you ask her to please put the... Say, I don't think it would be right for non-Indians to know about them.

Can you answer that question with my... Just say, I don't think it's right for non-Indians to... I don't think it's nice for non-Indians to learn about the Pueblo secret things. Why is that? Why is that? Why shouldn't they know? Well, I guess they're not supposed to, you know, some will talk and tell everybody. That's why I think they don't want for them to know about it.

That's it. Let's talk about language, okay, so if it can get, why is it important to know your language, you know, her hopes for the future? I think that's the point of that way. Her hopes for the... She's listening back a little bit.

Do you think we are all about that? No, she's the best. Okay, then. Hello, boy. Yeah. There's a lot of children in here. Can you please give them some advice about their language and their culture and please? Well, I don't want for them to leave their table language or their dancing. I don't want for it to be forgotten, you know? And with the non-indings and other friends, we get along alright. They're friendly.

So, we have no trouble. We visit each other sometimes. Is there any advice that you can give to public people today? And within the puzzle. To San Juan people, is there some advice that you would give to the San Juan people today? Just the San Juan people. No, we can't advise other people. What would you tell the San Juan people? Well, to be nice to people, to be friendly, you know not to be mistreating each others. What would you like to see in the future for the public people?

What would you like to see for the future of the public people? What do you see from the hope, the hope for the public, kind of hope? What would you like to see from the public people? What would you like to see from the public people? What would you like to see from the public people? Well, I want for the San Juan people in this to be good to each others and get along alright. That's my hope.

Can you speak to the children of the Fueblo in your native tongue and tell them what you mentioned earlier about keeping their language? So the future culture won't be lost. Can you speak to the children in your native tongue and tell them that? Do you want to speak to the children in your native tongue? Do you remember any particular experiences at the Santa Fe Indian School when you were there? Do you remember from the school?

There is to send us different places to learn how to work. To the sewing room, to the laundry, to the ironing room, to the kitchen, to the hospital. Where we will learn how to work, that's all I remember. To be good and be treated nice with the other children that are there, that are from different Pueblo. Do you remember how you got to the school, did you have to? We used to go in the wagon to school and later we went in the train, they called it G and RG. We used to go in that one.

Where did you get to train? On the other side of the Rio Grande. Can you repeat that? That house is not there anymore where you used to stop, you know? Veronica, can you tell me where you can tell me again. I used to catch the train to go to school. Can you tell me where you used to? I used to go in my father used to take me in the wagon. To the place where the train stopped and from there I kept a train with the others that are going to school. How long did it take the train ride? How long was the train ride? Do you remember? I think about a little over two hours. Of course it stopped on the way to the around the other Pueblo too.

To pick some more like Santa Clara, Santa Ponceau. I think it takes about two hours. Is there anything that you would like to add that I haven't asked you, is there something that you would like to talk about? This is great. Thank you.

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