PART IV - CASE STUDY 10.1
Pueblo Indian tourism in the American Southwest
Prior to European arrival, an estimated five million Native Americans lived in what it today the United States. These diverse peoples adapted to their physical and social environments in a manner compatible with the population density and needs of their societies. Low density populations throughout much of the pre-colonial US put little pressure on natural resources and resulted in mostly communal lifestyles and inter-tribal boundaries that were highly fluid.
On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, European society was developing in a very different manner. European colonial expansion into North America arose in association with 16th century mercantilism and global economic expansion. By the 18th century the laissez faire doctrines of the French gave rise to the Classical School of economics in England. Classical economic theory, based on rational economic behavior and reliance on free market forces, came to prominence at the very founding of the United States as a country, providing a basic social value that has contributed to the country’s long term economic success.
The Pueblo reservations of the American Southwest include Taos Pueblo in New Mexico and the Hopi villages of northern Arizona, among many others. They are among the oldest sites of continuous habitation and cultural continuity in North America. Minimal Spanish influence, as compared to Middle America, and a long history of cultural resistance to American domination have made the Pueblo tribes among the most traditional of all Native American cultures in the US. Today, they are popular tourist attractions for a segment of the non-Indian tourism market. The Acoma Pueblo Reservation (New Mexico), which has excellent access to an Interstate freeway, receives between 300,000 and 400,000 visitors annually (Lew & Kennedy, 2002). The more isolated Hopi Reservation is estimated to receive between 75,000 and 100,000 non-Indian tourists a year. For both, many Indian artists make a comfortable living through their arts and crafts sales.
The primary tourist attraction of the Pueblo tribes are in their strong traditions, as seen in their dances and arts, most of which are strongly grounded in their pre-European religious beliefs. Traditional Pueblo culture is "primal" in the sense that it is "not available for export." It is not possible for a non-tribal member to become a Pueblo Indian, although there are many Indian "wannabes" who intentionally trespass onto sacred sites. Nor can Pueblo culture be replicated in anything but a contrived manner outside of the original setting. The authenticity of the culture, and its close integration with place, are the essential elements in defining the attractiveness of the Pueblo villages to both their residents and to visitors.
Pueblo Indians hold mixed opinions on tourists. In one survey (Lew & Kennedy 2002), most were warm and open to visitors, though they are very protective of their religion and felt that the tourism situation needed to be improved through increased signage to control visitors and by expanding visitor services (such as providing public restrooms). These shortcomings of tourism, however, are directly related to the traditional qualities which tourists come to experience. The villages were not designed with the needs of the tourist in mind. Now that the tourists are here, however, they must be accommodated in some manner. The issue of how to maintain authenticity and traditional behavior patterns is a challenge. Sweet (1991) described how Pueblo Indians used secrecy about their religious practices as one way of maintaining cultural integrity against the onslaught of inquisitive tourists.
There are significant social and economic problems on many reservations, the result of long-standing efforts to colonize and assimilate American Indian peoples. American Indians have resisted such efforts, and in most cases they have maintained their core values and world views to an astonishing degree, as well as enough of the language and sacred ceremonies from which resurgence can be, and is being, successful. This is clearly evident to visitors to the Pueblo Indian villages of New Mexico and northern Arizona who are still living in the same places of their pre-Columbian ancestors. By comparison to past experiences, tourism is a relatively benign acculturation force, which benefits for the authenticity-seeking tourist and the tradition-seeking indigenous Indian residents.
References
Lew, A.A. and Kennedy, C.L. 2002. Tourism and Culture Clash in American Indian Country. In S. Krakover and Y. Gradus, eds., Tourism in Frontier Areas, pp.259-283. Lexington: Lexington Books.
Sweet, Jill D. 1991. "Let 'em Loose": Pueblo Indian Management of Tourism. American Indian Culture and Research Journal 15(4):59-74.
Pueblo Indian tourism in the American Southwest
Prior to European arrival, an estimated five million Native Americans lived in what it today the United States. These diverse peoples adapted to their physical and social environments in a manner compatible with the population density and needs of their societies. Low density populations throughout much of the pre-colonial US put little pressure on natural resources and resulted in mostly communal lifestyles and inter-tribal boundaries that were highly fluid.
On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, European society was developing in a very different manner. European colonial expansion into North America arose in association with 16th century mercantilism and global economic expansion. By the 18th century the laissez faire doctrines of the French gave rise to the Classical School of economics in England. Classical economic theory, based on rational economic behavior and reliance on free market forces, came to prominence at the very founding of the United States as a country, providing a basic social value that has contributed to the country’s long term economic success.
The Pueblo reservations of the American Southwest include Taos Pueblo in New Mexico and the Hopi villages of northern Arizona, among many others. They are among the oldest sites of continuous habitation and cultural continuity in North America. Minimal Spanish influence, as compared to Middle America, and a long history of cultural resistance to American domination have made the Pueblo tribes among the most traditional of all Native American cultures in the US. Today, they are popular tourist attractions for a segment of the non-Indian tourism market. The Acoma Pueblo Reservation (New Mexico), which has excellent access to an Interstate freeway, receives between 300,000 and 400,000 visitors annually (Lew & Kennedy, 2002). The more isolated Hopi Reservation is estimated to receive between 75,000 and 100,000 non-Indian tourists a year. For both, many Indian artists make a comfortable living through their arts and crafts sales.
The primary tourist attraction of the Pueblo tribes are in their strong traditions, as seen in their dances and arts, most of which are strongly grounded in their pre-European religious beliefs. Traditional Pueblo culture is "primal" in the sense that it is "not available for export." It is not possible for a non-tribal member to become a Pueblo Indian, although there are many Indian "wannabes" who intentionally trespass onto sacred sites. Nor can Pueblo culture be replicated in anything but a contrived manner outside of the original setting. The authenticity of the culture, and its close integration with place, are the essential elements in defining the attractiveness of the Pueblo villages to both their residents and to visitors.
Pueblo Indians hold mixed opinions on tourists. In one survey (Lew & Kennedy 2002), most were warm and open to visitors, though they are very protective of their religion and felt that the tourism situation needed to be improved through increased signage to control visitors and by expanding visitor services (such as providing public restrooms). These shortcomings of tourism, however, are directly related to the traditional qualities which tourists come to experience. The villages were not designed with the needs of the tourist in mind. Now that the tourists are here, however, they must be accommodated in some manner. The issue of how to maintain authenticity and traditional behavior patterns is a challenge. Sweet (1991) described how Pueblo Indians used secrecy about their religious practices as one way of maintaining cultural integrity against the onslaught of inquisitive tourists.
There are significant social and economic problems on many reservations, the result of long-standing efforts to colonize and assimilate American Indian peoples. American Indians have resisted such efforts, and in most cases they have maintained their core values and world views to an astonishing degree, as well as enough of the language and sacred ceremonies from which resurgence can be, and is being, successful. This is clearly evident to visitors to the Pueblo Indian villages of New Mexico and northern Arizona who are still living in the same places of their pre-Columbian ancestors. By comparison to past experiences, tourism is a relatively benign acculturation force, which benefits for the authenticity-seeking tourist and the tradition-seeking indigenous Indian residents.
References
Lew, A.A. and Kennedy, C.L. 2002. Tourism and Culture Clash in American Indian Country. In S. Krakover and Y. Gradus, eds., Tourism in Frontier Areas, pp.259-283. Lexington: Lexington Books.
Sweet, Jill D. 1991. "Let 'em Loose": Pueblo Indian Management of Tourism. American Indian Culture and Research Journal 15(4):59-74.