Etiquette for Pueblos in New Mexico

During our SchoolArt/CRIZMAC Celebrating Pueblo Art and Culture in Santa Fe this coming July, we will be visiting 1-2 Pueblos. Why is there a need to spell out etiquette for visiting New Mexico Indian Pueblos? Non-Indian visitors have at times offended Native Americans by their behavior from either not knowing or caring about the rules of courtesy. Each Pueblo operates under its own government and establishes its own rules for visitors. Please obey all rules and regulations of the individual pueblos.

The Pueblo people of New Mexico are some of few Native American Peoples who never left or were not forced off their original lands. Each Pueblo is a universe onto itself.
In Pueblo culture, the right to knowledge must be earned and asking questions is not considered to be polite. In the Pueblos, people live in the homes; they are not open to the public. It is a great honor to be invited into a Pueblo home.

Pueblo Etiquette

• Please control your children and see that they are respectful.
• Although most Pueblos are open to the public during daylight hours, the homes are private. Do not enter without an invitation.
• Please stay in the immediate village area. Do not wander.
• Do not climb walls or other structures. Some are several hundred years old and damage easily.
• Do not pick up or remove any artifacts or objects, such as pieces of broken pottery.
• Kivas and graveyards are NOT to be entered by non-pueblo people.
• Alcohol, weapons and drugs will not be tolerated.
• No pets, please.
• Please obey all traffic, parking and speed limit signs. Our children are at play, and many of our people are elderly.
• All Pueblo dances are religious ceremonies, not staged performances. Please observe them with respect and quiet attention.
• Do not interrupt non-dance participants' concentration by asking questions, talking or waving to friends.
• Refrain from talking to the dancers. Do not approach them as they are entering, leaving or resting near the kiva.
• Applause after dances is not appropriate.
• On feast days, enter a Pueblo home as you would any other - BY INVITATION ONLY.
• It is courteous to accept an invitation to eat, but do not linger at the table, as your host will probably want to serve many guests throughout the day. Thank your host, but a payment or tip is not appropriate.

Photography
Some Pueblos require a photography fee, but you still will not be able to shoot anything you like. If you do not follow the rules for photography, you could lose your camera. (I personally am not comfortable taking photographs in the Pueblos; I would rather focus on paying close attention to being there.)

• Permits, fees and restrictions vary among Pueblos. It is important to contact each Pueblo regarding its policies. Do not attempt to take photos or make recordings or sketches if not allowed.
• Photographs are for private use only and may not be reproduced or resold without written permission.
• Please ask permission before taking someone's photograph.
• A photo permit does not give you license to disrupt dances by getting in front of dancers or spectators.
• The above information is from the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos 1999 Visitor's Guide.