Gallup Summer Indian Dances

Above, a dancer from the Zuni Pueblo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A little while ago, I received a notice about this summer's Indian dances.

I was pleased to see that they've been moved back to the Courthouse Square. 

According to the Visit Gallup Facebook page:

The Gallup Summer Indian Dances take place every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from June 4, 2024 through August 29, 2024, from 6PM to 8PM in the Gallup McKinley Courthouse Square.

On those nights, dances are performed by the Indian tribes in the area such as Navajo, Hopi, Zuni and others.

I have been to many of the dances and all have been entertaining to watch.

Tribes and Feds Agree On Fort Wingate Restoration

Above, the front entrance to the Fort Wingate Army Depot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

About 10 miles west of my home (as the crow flies), Fort Wingate sits unused since 1993. It is a former Army depot.

Two tribes have come to an agreement with the federal government on future restoration of the Fort Wingate property.

AP News (Associated Press) reported:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Two Native American tribes, the state of New Mexico and the U.S. Army have finalized a restoration plan for a former military installation near Gallup.

Explosives and munitions were stored and disposed of at Fort Wingate until it closed in 1993.

The Navajo Nation, Zuni Pueblo and the New Mexico Office of Natural Resources Trustee reached an agreement with the federal government in March 2022 to settle claims that land, water and cultural resources were negatively impacted by hazardous substances at the site.

The site now is undergoing environmental cleanup before the tract of land can be transferred to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to benefit the two tribes. Both tribes have long-standing historical ties to the lands in and around Fort Wingate, which sits on about 24 square miles (62 square kilometers). The land is almost entirely surrounded by federally owned or administered lands, including national forest and tribal lands.

To read more, go here. 

States With The Biggest Native American Populations

Above, Zuni Pueblo dancer in Gallup. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Native American population in the region where I live is the most in the U.S. It is dominated by the Navajo Nation.

What are the states with the biggest Native American population, you may ask? 

Herald Community Newspapers has posted an article with the answer.

They begin with:

More than 5 million Native Americans live in the United States as members of 574 federally recognized and 63 state-recognized tribes. That number is projected to rise to 10 million by 2060.

A federally recognized tribe is a sovereign entity with a government-to-government relationship with the United States, as well as the rights of self-governance in such areas as tribal law and taxation.

Just 13% of Native Americans live within 324 recognized reservations. Land held in trust by the U.S. government for Native American settlement is roughly 56 million acres. The 16 million-acre Navajo Nation Reservation in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah is the largest, and the 1.32-acre Pit River Tribe cemetery in California is the smallest.

Stacker ranked the states with the largest Native American populations using data from the Census Bureau's 2021 American Community Survey. The Census Bureau's definition of Native Americans includes Alaskan Natives but excludes Native Hawaiians.

To read more, go here. 

Drive To Joe Milo's Trading Post

Above, the front of Joe Milo's Trading Post. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday, Mitch Geriminsky and I headed out to Red Rock Park near Gallup to view the Red Rock Balloon Rally ascension that was supposed to take place at 7:30. 

We got there about 7:40 but there were no balloons in the launching field. The only balloons there were packed away at various campsites at the campground next to the field. A number of people were wandering, and wondering, why no balloons were being launched.

Above, Joe Milo's White Water Trading Co. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We decided to head into Gallup to have breakfast at the Cracker Barrel.

After breakfast, we went to different Gallup trading posts to do some browsing. We eventually ended up going 16 or so miles south of town towards the Zuni Pueblo. I had never been in that area, so it was interesting for me to see what's down there. 

Above, Joe Milo's is ready for Christmas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We stopped at Joe Milo's White Water Trading Co. in Vanderwagen, New Mexico. Next to the Hubbell trading post in Ganado, Arizona, Joe Milo's has the most interesting collections of merchandise, including raw turquoise, silver, guns, ammo, art and goods to make jewelry. I ended up buying a dream catcher. I got lucky as it was 50% off the regular price. I've seen Joe Milo's billboards in and around Gallup, but I have never been there until now.

Above, Joe Milo's Trading Co. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Along the road to Joe Milo's, were many ranches of various sizes. It turned out to be a nice area for a drive.

Native American Dances Moved To Gallup Cultural Center Infuriating Many

Above, a Zuni Pueblo dancer at the Courthouse Plaza in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I read that Native American dances will be held three nights a week at the Gallup Cultural Center (which houses the Amtrak station), I thought it was something else and not the traditional nightly Native American dances at the Courthouse Plaza that ran from Memorial Day to Labor Day annually.

It is not.

According to the Gallup Sun:

Nightly Native dances have been a part of Gallup’s summer tradition for years, but like many longstanding events returning from a pandemic hiatus, changes are in the works.

As part of the Gallup Cultural Center’s city-sponsored refresh, the formerly Nightly Indian Dances will return for three nights a week at a new arena under construction there.

That’s not good news for restaurant owner James Rich, who’s unhappy that the dances will leave Courthouse Plaza. For years he’s kept Camille’s Sidewalk Café open in the evenings to serve patrons who come to the plaza to watch the dances.

It’s not just that the dances are moving, he said, but that business owners around the plaza were not consulted before the change was announced to the City Council April 12.

“The lack of inclusion has led us to feel a little disappointed with the decisions that are being made with the nightly dance program,” he said. “Without the opportunity to be in that conversation to relocate it, just unilaterally make a decision to relocate it, we learned that tonight. It was a huge mistake.“

He found sympathetic ears in Gallup City Councilors Fran Palochak and Linda Garcia.

“I was very sad to see the dances were moving from courthouse plaza because it’s such a beautiful venue. It’s round and has seating,” Palochak said. “The plaza was built for this purpose… I just don’t want to see that side die to promote another side of town. The goal and focus is to make downtown vibrant. If there’s too much separation that’s not going to happen.”

Garcia agreed.

“I was also sad [...] to hear we’re not using courthouse square for dances,” she said. “It always drew the people. It was crowded and the tourists just loved it.”

The plaza will still have entertainment.

In addition to concerns about their own business operations, Rich noted that the dances moved to the plaza partly out of concerns over safety and disruptive train noise at the Cultural Center, which is in the renovated Santa Fe Depot. The arena under construction now may not even be suitable for dances, he told the City Council.

“It’s on concrete. It’s supposed to be on dirt. Some of the dancers may object to that,” he said. “There is no keyhole to enter that dance arena. Some of the ladies with the long dresses will have a challenge stepping over that wall.”

"What we have here was a failure to communicate" or, "a lack of communication."

Above, the Gallup Cultural Center in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is my suggestion to bring the dances back to the Courthouse Plaza three nights a week and hold them at the Cultural Center two nights a week since taxpayer funds were used to build the new arena there as a compromise.

To read the full article, go here.

Last Night's 2021 Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial

Above, the wild horse race could best be described as "organized chaos". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the first time in two years, the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial is taking place at Red Rock Park.

Last year's Ceremonial was canceled due to the pandemic and this year's has been scaled down due to political factors as the state's tourism board usurped much of it from the local committee. 

Still, it was nice to attend the Ceremonial which comprised of an art show/contest, vendors, rodeo and tribal dancing. It was well attended last night. Maybe a third of the normal number of vendors were there from what I saw in 2019 and an equal number of artworks were on display.

The rodeo started with a  pre-show "wild horse race" which could be best described as organized chaos. The rodeo then officially began with bareback riding and then bull riding. 

One of the first bareback riders barely escaped serious injury when his horse threw him but his hand and wrist was tied too well to the horse reins and it dragged him around the arena, at one point it seemed to knock his head against barrier bars. Finally, rodeo staff were able to get the horse under control and get the rider detached from the reins. I would not be surprised if his hand, wrist and arm sustained injury. He had to be carried out of the arena.

After taking in the bareback riding and bull riding events at the rodeo, I decided to head on home as the weather was threatening and I anticipated a traffic jamb on Interstate 40 and Route 66,

Sure enough, both were clogged with traffic and I decided to head home through Six Mile Canyon Road from McGaffey. It was an interesting drive as it was dusk with cloudy skies along with rain and lightning, but I made it. It was the second time I drove through Six Mile Canyon in the Cibola National Forest in the Mustang. Good thing I left when I did, when I got home, the storm got more intense.

It was an enjoyable Friday evening and the Ceremonial continues through the weekend.

Here's some photos:

Above, the exhibit hall. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, exhibitors with goods for sale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, art show displays. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Navajo rug contest entries. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Gallup area artist Jerry Brown with works in progress. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Zuni Pueblo dancers. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, some of the rodeo's wild horses. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Red Rock Park Rodeo Arena. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the bareback riding event. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the bareback rider who barely escaped serious injury dragged around the arena. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, another bareback rider. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above and the next three photos, the bull riding event. Photos by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a bull that got loose from his pen. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, driving home in Six Mile Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Page, Arizona Mayor Makes "Insensitive" Remarks About Navajos

Above, a map of the massive Navajo Nation at the Navajo Museum Library
 & Visitors Center in Window Rock, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As we are almost two months into the lockdown and stay-at-home orders in various states, it is understandable that nerves are frayed a bit and some things are being said and done that shouldn't be and normally wouldn't be.

The latest involves the mayor of Page, Arizona and the Navajo Nation.

From The Middletown Press:

PAGE, Ariz. (AP) — Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez called on elected officials in reservation border towns to work with the tribe to combat the coronavirus after one mayor made a comment he said was insensitive. 

The Navajo Nation has been hit harder by COVID-19 than any other Native American reservation and has one of the highest per capita rates in the country. As of Saturday, 2,292 people have tested positive and 73 have died. 

The tribe instituted nightly curfews and weekend lockdowns, closed its tourist destinations and tribal offices, and ordered people to stay home. 

Levi Tappan, who is mayor of nearby Page, Arizona, and isn't Native American, posted a comment online over the weekend that said, “I wish he would battle alcoholism as hard as COVID19.” It came after Tappan wrote a letter to Nez asking if he would consider reopening some popular recreation areas on the reservation. 

The comment has since been deleted, and Tappan apologized. 

“I know he’s devoted a lot of resources to combating COVID-19, and I think when the number settles, it will show that alcohol is still far deadlier for our residents, and so I just wish that we could work with those kind of resources on all of our diseases,” Tappan said Sunday. 

Alcoholism is one of the largest social ills on the 27,000-square-mile (70,000-square-kilometer) reservation that reaches into New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. The sale and consumption of alcohol largely is banned there, fueling bootleg operations or leading people into border towns that are hubs for basic household supplies, alcohol sales and water hauling stations. 

Albuquerque was sending water tankers to Gallup on Monday, a much smaller New Mexico city about two hours west on the fringes of the Navajo Nation. Gallup is on lockdown until Thursday to prevent nonessential travel after a rise in coronavirus cases was linked to an outbreak at a detox center.

A portion of the Navajo Nation is just across Interstate 40 from our community of Jamestown, New Mexico. The Iyanbito Chapter of the Nation is directly north of us.

I am pleased to read that water tankers are being sent to Gallup for the tribes in the area (the Zuni Pueblo is south of Gallup). Food and other provisions should be also sent to the tribes since Gallup is under lockdown and non-residents aren't allowed in.

To read more, go here. 

NM Gov. MLG Blocks Indian Nations From Getting Food & Water

How are the tribes able to get food, water and supplies if Gallup is under lockdown?

Yesterday, the governor extended lockdown to Thursday, which will bring the total days (thus far) to six.

2019 Gallup UFO Film Festival

Above, Gallup UFO Film Festival founder Chuck Wade
 giving his presentation. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

What better things to do than going to a UFO film festival in a small town?

Last night, I headed into Gallup (population 21,000) for the annual Gallup UFO Film Festival. I attended it last year and found it interesting.

Above, a slide on a UFO crash near San Antonio, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was better attended this year since there were no rumors that it was cancelled as there was last year. Besides the evening program, they had free coffee, hot dogs and chips & salsa. The film festival runs through tonight.

Above, a slide of found UFO crash debris. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A film started the evening on different UFO incidents in New Mexico. One incident it covered caught my interest. It was of an "armada" of UFOs over Farmington, New Mexico in March 1950. Farmington is about 120 miles north of Gallup, New Mexico.

According to DGO:

According to decades-old information, the story goes like this: For three days in March 1950, hundreds of flying saucer-like objects floated over Farmington. The Farmington Daily Times newspaper was flooded with calls from citizens who witnessed the UFOs. They ran a giant headline, which screamed, “Huge ‘Saucer’ Armada Jolts Farmington,” across the top of the paper in bold, all-caps letters. “Crafts Seen By Hundreds,” another headline read. 

“Fully half of this town’s population still is certain today that it saw space ships or some strange aircraft — hundreds of them zooming through the skies yesterday. Estimates of the number ranged from ‘several’ to more that (sic) 500. Whatever they were, they caused a major sensation in this community, which lies only 110 air miles northwest of the huge Los Alamos Atomic installation.” 

The article went on to claim that the objects, which one witness estimated to be about the size of a B-29 airplane, seemed “to play tag high in the air,” and raced across the sky at speeds estimated to be about 1,000 miles an hour.

Above, a map of 7 New Mexico UFO crash sites. Phot by Armand Vaquer.

Following the film, a presentation about seven (that's right, seven) UFO crashes in New
Mexico was presented by the founder of the Gallus UFO Film Festival, Chuck Wade. The presentation included slides.

Above, a statement from one who saw alien bodies in a crashed UFO. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A photo of "honeycomb" crash debris was interesting. Wade said that each "honeycomb" was filled with tiny wiring. He said nobody knows what the material was used for.

Above, Zuni elder Clifford Mahooty gives his presentation. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After Wade, Clifford Mahooty, elder of the Zuni Pueblo, spoke on UFOs and Southwest Indigenous Culture.

For ten bucks admission, the Gallup UFO Film Festival was an enjoyable diversion for a Friday night. 

Lost Dutchman Chapter Plaque Dedication At The El Rancho Hotel

Above, the plaque that was dedicated today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The general consensus of today's Lost Dutchman Chapter's plaque dedication at the El Rancho Hotel and Motel: a rousing success!

About 65 people attended the event, thirty of them being Clampers. And all who attended enjoyed the program which included a history of the hotel by the El Rancho's Leroy McCray, two dance performances by dancers from the Zuni Pueblo (located south of Gallup, New Mexico), a history of E Clampus Vitus by XNGH Ken Dorsal, the plaque dedication (with family members of the Ortega Family participating) and refreshments.

It was only this morning around 8:30 that I received confirmation that the dance group would be there. After which, I headed into Gallup and met with some of the greybeards at breakfast in the hotel.

After the event was over, several of us migrated over to the hotel's bar for some adult beverages.

From there, I headed over to Red Rock Park for the annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial (more on that in another post).

It was a nice event and I am pleased that everyone there enjoyed it.

Photos of today's event:

Above, a photo op before the ceremonies. 

Above, Zuni Pueblo dancers perform a "corn dance". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Leroy McCray provides a history of the El Rancho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the gathering in rapt attention. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Ken Dorsal gives a history of ECV. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, XNGH Tom Garland shows the plaque to members of the Ortega Family. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, El Rancho General Manager Teena Carney receives the plaque from XNGH Tom Garland. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Zuni Pueblo dancers close out the program with a "deer dance". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Lost Dutchman Clampers close out the event by migrating to the bar. Phto by Armand Vaquer.

T.C.B. In Gallup

Above, Fabian's first dance of the evening. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tonight was an evening in Gallup for me. The weather was perfect (warm and clear with a slight breeze).

First, I headed to Zen Steak and Sushi for a sushi dinner. I was craving it and it is a beneficial meal for those who have heart issues.

Above, Shelley and Fabian. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Following that, I headed over to the Gallup Coffee Co., a little latte shop for a mocha and to let my meal digest a bit.

From there, I headed over to the McKinley County Courthouse Plaza for tonight's Indian dancing. Performing tonight were Shelley and Fabian of the Zuni Pueblo. I saw them last summer and enjoyed their performance. I wasn't disappointed tonight either.

Above, Shelley got some of the audience ladies up for a swan dance. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My main reason for attending was to get contact information for Indian dancing groups for the upcoming Lost Dutchman Chapter, E Clampus Vitus plaque dedication at the El Rancho Hotel on August 10. I spoke with one of the Chamber of Commerce volunteers about getting a dancing group and it was good thing I did. She said that her roommate handles the dancers for the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial (that's going to take place at the same time as the plaque dedication). Most of the Ceremonial's dancing will be during the evening hours, our plaque dedication will be in the morning. We exchanged information. I will be giving her a call on Friday (since tomorrow is a holiday).

She also said it wouldn't be a good idea to approach the Indian dancing groups directly, it is better to go though her roommate Teri.

Above, Shelley, Fabian and audience members up for the circle dance. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After the Indian dancing and taking care of business, I headed off to Albertson's market to pick up some wine for a dinner party tomorrow night that I was invited to.

All in all, it was a pretty good evening and I didn't get bogged down in construction-related traffic!

Dancers From Zuni Pueblo

Above, a dancer from the Zuni Pueblo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To close out the month, I headed back into Gallup this evening to have dinner at Zen Steak and Sushi. Following that, I headed over to the McKinley County Courthouse plaza to take in tonight's Indian dancing.

Tonight, the dancers were from the Zuni Pueblo. Each night, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the city of Gallup and the Gallup Chamber of Commerce sponsors nightly Indian dancing. Dancers from all tribes take part. The nightly event is free to the public.

Of course, I had my camera with me to take some pictures of the dancers. The dances photographed were the "corn dance" and "rainbow dance".

Here's some of them: