Nación Genízara: Ethnogenesis, Place, and Identity in New Mexico

Querencias Series

by Moises Gonzales (Editor), Enrique R. Lamadrid (Editor)

Winner of the 2021 Heritage Publication Award from the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division

Nación Genízara examines the history, cultural evolution, and survival of the Genízaro people. The contributors to this volume cover topics including ethnogenesis, slavery, settlements, poetics, religion, gender, family history, and mestizo genetics. Fray Ang�lico Ch�vez defined Genízaro as the ethnic term given to indigenous people of mixed tribal origins living among the Hispano population in Spanish fashion. They entered colonial society as captives taken during wars with Utes, Apaches, Comanches, Kiowas, Navajos, and Pawnees. Genízaros comprised a third of the population by 1800. Many assimilated into Hispano and Pueblo society, but others in the land-grant communities maintained their identity through ritual, self-government, and kinship.

Today the persistence of Genízaro identity blurs the lines of distinction between Native and Hispanic frameworks of race and cultural affiliation. This is the first study to focus exclusively on the detribalized Native experience of the Genízaro in New Mexico.

Genres: History

390 pages, Hardcover

Published December 1, 2019

Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hefty and dense tome, which is a challenge to get through, but nonetheless an indispensable resource for understanding the complexity of Genízaro origins, history, and identity. Each chapter is written by a different author. It contains everything from scholarly historical work, to poetry, to oral and written local history. Though hundreds of years later I do question what I can truly know about the experiences of my indigenous, specifically Genízaro ancestors, this book makes a strong effort in revealing what it may have meant to be Genízaro throughout the history of New Mexico. I am thankful this work exists.

[Georgia Roybal · Rating 4 out of 5]

When asked what are genizaros, I always answered "detribalized Indians." After reading this book, I learned so much more detail about the issue. For instance, completely new to me was that there was a process for indigenous people to file legal complaints before rules were formalized in the Recopilacion de las Leyes de los Indios. The whole situation about genizaros is discussed in great detail. The book includes art reflecting genizaro culture. There are discussions of art and literature reflecting genizaro influence, a DNA project pinpointing genizaro physical evidence, language issues and detailed histories of genizaro land grants and the individuals who inhabited them. I also knew there was slavery during this period of New Mexico's history, but this book gave me insight about the extent of the practices, the treatment of the slaves or indentured servants, how the slavery came about and other aspects of the practice. All this despite the primary explorer of this slavery, Dr. Estevan Rael-Galvez being a friend. This book gives a tremendous and detailed picture of an often ignored aspect of New Mexico history.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent historical overview of the Spanish caste system and the ways in which mixed race and native peoples fit into it. Greatly important background for how identity was created then lost…and what that means today.