Pueblo Nations: Eight Centuries of Pueblo Indian History

by Joe S. Sando

Pueblo Nations is the story of a vital and creative culture, of a people sustained by ages-old traditions and beliefs, who have adapted to the radical challenges of the modern world. Written by a respected writer, educator, and elder of the Jemez Pueblo, this rare, insider's view of the history of the 19 Indian Pueblos of New Mexico illuminates Pueblo historical traditions dating from millennia before the arrival of Columbus and chronicles the events and changes of the European era from the perspective of those who experienced them.
Drawing on both traditional oral history and written records, Sando describes the origin and development of Pueblo civilization, the Spanish conquest and occupation, the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, and the response of the pueblos to Mexican independence and conquest by the United States. Sando offers several portraits of notable Pueblo leaders whose contributions have helped shape the history of their people. He looks at internal developments in Pueblo government and presents a detailed account of the unremitting struggle to retain sovereignty, land, and water rights in the face of powerful outside pressures.

This new edition is fully indexed and updated.

Genres: Native American, Indigenous, History, Nonfiction

312 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Ryan Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating stuff! Now that I’ve moved away from NM, I’m seeing my old state in a brand new light... Excellent read

[Tascha Folsoi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is comprehensive and a great resource for the history of the Pueblo Indians, the legal maneuverings of the US with respect to their sovereignty, and a resource for timelines, important individuals, and governance structure. It's a bit outdated in its omission of women, but it's woke enough for its day :).

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gained a greater understanding of the Pueblo people as a whole and the differences among the different tribes in this group. I was interested to learn more about the legal battles that the pueblo people have been fighting for many years.

[Gabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little uneven but good, a valuable corrective to the usual history accounts

[captain america · Rating 3 out of 5]

overview of pueblo history, people and politics. not bad but not as many insights as you'd expect from a pueblo native.
better to seek out his long out-of-print book nee hemish (spelling?) about his home village of jemez pueblo.

[Lisa]

very good