The Origin Myth of Acoma Pueblo

by Edward Proctor Hunt, Peter Nabokov (Editor), Henry Wayne Hunt (Translator)

A masterpiece of Pueblo Indian mythology, now in a restored edition

Edward Proctor Hunt, a Pueblo Indian man, was born in 1861 in the mesa-top village of Acoma, New Mexico, and initiated into several secret societies, only to later break with his people’s social and reli­gious codes. In 1928, he recited his version of the origin myth of the Acoma Indians to Smithsonian Institution scholars. Hailed by many as the most accessible of all epic narratives recounting a classic Pueblo Indian story of creation, migration, and ulti­mate residence, the myth offers a unique window into Pueblo Indian cosmology and ancient history, revealing how a premodern society answered key existential questions and formed its customs. In this new edition, Peter Nabokov renders this important document into a clear sequence, adds excerpted material from the original storytelling sessions, and explores the creation and roles of such myths in Pueblo Indian cultures.
 
The remarkable life of Edward Hunt is the subject of Peter Nabokov’s companion volume, How the World Moves , which follows Hunt and his sons on their passage from tradition to modernity as they strike out as native entrepreneurs and travelling interpreters of American Indian lore.

Genres: History, Indigenous, Mythology, Religion, Classics, Nonfiction, Native American

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 25, 2015

Reviews

[E. G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Preface
Introduction, by Peter Nabokov
A Note on this Text

--The Origin Myth of Acoma Pueblo

Glossary
Bibliography

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find the idea of providing a star rating for another culture's religion rather presumptuous. The Origin Myth of the Acoma Pueblo, as recounted by Edward Proctor Hunt to the Smithsonian in 1928, does not belong to me, and I do not have legitimacy to pass judgment on it. Reading this only makes me a guest in the Pueblo worldview, and as a guest, one should always behave politely and say thank you.

I am thankful Mr. Hunt shared this story so non-indigenous readers can gain greater understanding of certain Pueblo beliefs. I was particularly intrigued to learn that the first two humans in the myth were sisters, Iatiku and Nautsiti. And while I'm not a spiritual person myself, I found inspiration in the belief that the sisters were created by their father, Uchtsiti, to bring things to life and finish his act of creation. This is a lovely concept -- that humans are here not to rule creation, but to participate in creation. To the extent I may incorporate a small piece of Pueblo mythology into my own worldview, this will be it.

Aside from the myth itself, I thought the introduction by Peter Nabokov was also well-written, and provided a good overview of the myth's significance that added to my understanding of the story. I'm glad I didn't skip it, and would recommend the same to other readers.

Finally, I acknowledge that Proctor's version of the myth is just that -- his version, and not a definitive source. Nabokov does a good job of explaining this in his introduction, as well as the fact that Hunt himself was actually a practicing Christian who had been expelled from his tribe for failing to participate in the very religious ceremonies he then recounted. Hunt also travelled Europe performing indigenous ceremonies for pay, and was similarly paid by the Smithsonian for sharing this story. As such, I would say that Hunt, to a certain extent, may be an unreliable narrator -- we don't know his motives, but can't rule out the possibility that they included some form of revenge or merely profit.

Regarding the controversy over whether Nabokov disrespected the Acoma Pueblo by publishing this supposedly secret, sacred history, I ... am too much of an atheist to feel genuinely troubled by this, just as I can't sit through a Catholic mass without squirming. I am grateful this book exists to help me understand the Pueblo people, but I am personally incapable of attaching actual spiritual meaning to it. Other readers, of course, may feel differently, and their feelings on the matter would be legitimate.

[Alyssa]

I can’t rate this book as the whole second half shouldn’t be available for the public to read. These are sacred stories meant only for those initiated.

[Kaethe]

Published without consent or consideration of the Acoma

[Will Plunkett · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's too bad that they do not allow images of their cultural locations or items, because pictures would've improved the book immensely. I have been to the actual Acoma Pueblo before.

[Aaron · Rating 2 out of 5]

An important historical and anthropological primary source, but also a very boring read.