When Elders Speak
When Elders Speak is a series of 5 one hour interviews with Pueblo elders from Taos Pueblo, Kha’po’ Owenge (Santa Clara Pueblo) and Ohkay Owenge (San Juan Pueblo). Thankfully still with us, these elders are willing to share their stories and unique perspectives of Pueblo life between the late 1930s and now.
BENNIE ROMERO
Bennie Romero is a Tiwa/Taos Pueblo man in his 80s. A small circle of people are aware that Mr. Romero has a beautiful singing voice. His traditional Tiwa songs evoke a another time in Taos Pueblo history. His songs carry us back to the early 40s when he was a young man living a traditional Taos Pueblo lifestyle - no electricity, no running water.
Mr. Romero’s words and songs reflect his memories growing up in a Pueblo world that was communal, sustainable and culturally dynamic.
Tito Naranjo
Tito Naranjo is a Kha’p’o Owenge born in 1937. Mr. Naranjo grew up hunting and fishing in the canyon above Kha’p’o Owenge. Mr. Naranjo became an educator, author, artist and story teller who is a valued elder in our community. Tito’s life was defined by a Pueblo world view that included a strong relationship to land and animals. Mr. Naranjo’s life story is an important document of what life was like in the Northern New Mexico Pueblos during seismic social and cultural shifts. Whenever an elders speaks, there is a treasure trove of information, maps if you will that lay ground for generations of younger Pueblo people.
TESSIE NARANJO
Tessie Naranjo is in her 80s, she is a Ka’p’o tribal member who lives in the center of the village. She lives in her Satya’s (grandmother) adobe home. Ms. Naranjo holds Tewa classes for her family on Zoom. Everyone in the village knows her, she is everyone’s Koo oh. - “auntie”. Tessie is deeply rooted in Pueblo culture, She understands her sense of self and place in the Pueblo world and speaks eloquently to issues of community, identity and value systems in the Pueblo world. What does community mean to Koo oh Tessie now? How has the community changed since her youth in the 40’s. What is a healthy community?
LOUISA CATA ROMERO
Louisa Cata Romero is a Kha’p’o/Ohkay woman in her late 80s who still makes Pueblo ceremonial montas. Louisa’s skill in creating this particular embroidered ceremonial dress is extraordinary, resulting in Montas that are worn and danced in with pride by many women in her community. Louisa has been a life long educator teaching at the Santa Fe Indian School and Taos Pueblo during her 30 year career. Ms. Cata Romero was instrumental in creating a language Weaving Dictionary for the Kha’p’o Owenge Library. And like Mr. Romero, few people know of Louisa’s contribution to our community and our ceremonies.
EDNA ROMERO
Edna Romero is a Kha’p’o Owenge elder married to Bennie Romero. Mrs. Romero is a retired elementary school, a dedicated educator who taught Pueblo students for more than 30 years. Edna's memories of life in Kha’p’o Owenge are an important glimpse into Pueblo life during the Great Depression. During a time when few Pueblo women left their communities for college, Edna recalls the challenges of traveling and navigating the world outside of Kha’p’o Owenge during the 1950’s.