ABSTRACT
Ever since the late nineteenth century, New Mexico has been portrayed as an enchanted and enduring land, a magical and ancient place where extraordinary forms of experience persist and where exotic cultures perpetuate themselves in spite of history (Bennett 1934; Spencer 1934; anonymous, c. 1950s; Pomeroy 1957; Thomas 1978; Weigle 1989; albers 1995; dilworth 1996). The legendary imagining of New Mexico is closely tied to its identity as an internationally unique travel destination, and today, it continues to draw heavily on its indigenous peoples, especially those from the eight northern Pueblo communities of the Tiwa-speakers at Taos and Picuris, and the Tewa-speakers at Nambe, Pojoaque, Tesuque, Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan), San Ildefonso, and Santa Clara. All of these pueblos are located along the Rio Grande between Santa Fe and Taos, two of the state’s major tourist destinations.
