Sky City - The Acoma Pueblo

The Acoma are one of the rare native tribes who have been one people living on their land for over 2000 years. In their oral history, they go back much further.

For centuries they lived in peace and trade, and their culture thrived.But the high sandstone walls turned out to be no match for Spanish conquistadors who came seeking the city of gold, and conquered the Acoma pueblo in the process.

The only way to visit the pueblo is by a tour given by Acoma guides from the Sky City Cultural Center. I walked the unpaved rocky streets, past ancient buildings and tiny plazas surrounded by mountains and mesas that measure their ages in eons. Exploring the pueblo is to become clearly aware of history and the difficulties of combining that legacy with modern life.

The pueblo has both older and newer buildings, moments of incongruity as new windows and cement blocks sit atop older adobe walls. There is no running water and no electricity. Coolers hold food, although an occasional generator can be seen. Water is hauled up the steep road, and outhouses remind visitors of the reality of living as one's ancestors did.

The Acoma are famous for the pottery, and visitors to the pueblo have ample opportunity to see these hand-made pots of coiled clay, smoothed, painted and signed by the artisans. The people are open and friendly,but etiquette is clear no photos of people without their expressed permission.

Frequently requests for photos are waved away with a shy smile and a head shake "no." Privacy is valued, especially when visitors are always coming into their community.