Taos Pueblo and Its Sacred Blue Lake

Description

In the mountains of northern New Mexico above Taos Pueblo lies a deep, turquoise lake which was taken away from the Taos Indians, for whom it is a sacred life source and the final resting place of their souls. The story of their struggle to regain the lake is at the same time a story about the effort to retain the spiritual life of this ancient community. Marcia Keegan’s text and historic photographs document the celebration in 1971, when the sacred lake was returned to Taos Pueblo after a sixty year struggle with the Federal government.

This revised and expanded edition celebrates the 40th anniversary of this historic event, and includes forwards from the 1971 edition by Frank Waters, and from the 1991 20th anniversary edition by Stewart L. Udall. Also contained here is new material: statements from past and current tribal leaders, reflections from Pueblo members, historic tribal statements made at the 1970 Congressional hearings and a 1971 photograph of Richard Nixon with tribal Elders signing the Blue Lake Bill into law.

An activist for the promotion of Native culture, Keegan was privileged to advocate the cause of Blue Lake and participated in the 1971 victory celebration at Taos Pueblo for Blue Lake’s return. Many of the photographs in this book are from that celebration. Her photographs of everyday life at Taos Pueblo, and quotes by members of the community, capture the spiritual beauty of Taos Pueblo and its people.