Growing up in El Paso Texas I learned early on it was important to distinguish the people that lived there by their ancestors, not necessarily by the color of their skin, or the language they spoke.
For those who didn't know, El Paso has an Indian Reservation which is practically downtown, it is in the Ysletta district....and known as the Tigua Indian Reservation.
This "Tribal Community", as they prefer to be referred to, was recognized by the state of Texas in 1968.
They have been baking breads in the same open clay ovens since the early 1800's, they were once a part of the Pueblo Nation but as the oldest permanent settlers in the State of Texas, the Tiguas, originally from New Mexico, relocated to the El Paso area after the Pueblo Revolt of 1680.
They built the oldest church in Texas, and the oldest Mission in Texas.
They are a proud and colorful people.
They love the bright colors, and color is seen everywhere when you're in town or anywhere around the tribe.
That was true when I was a young boy growing up there, and the last time I visited, things had not changed one bit.
Many in West Texas are very proud of their own Indian Tribe and, although I no longer live there, I have had the privilege of personally knowing several of them over the years. Many of them I met when I was attending UTEP, and doing "field trips" to Hueco Tanks (Pronounced Waco Tanks)
Hueco Tanks is a sacred area to the Tigua Indians, and there are still paintings, or pictographs, that were done hundreds of years ago, and they were done by the Tigua Indians.
Much of the land El Paso sits on was once Tigua land.
However through crooked land deals, and plain out & out land take overs, they have now settled in the lower valley at Ysletta.
El Paso Mission Trail | Be a Part of It! Here is another interesting link on the Tigua and Pueblo Indians for those interested.
The Tigua Indians of TexasUncle Russ...
Topic: The Tigua Indian..... (Read 124 times)