Summer Youth in Action participants journeyed to Taos, New Mexico on June 26-28, 2017. They visited the Taos Pueblo for a tour of one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States.

The trip was intended to connect Southern Ute youth to another Native culture, to learn about the history between the Ute Tribe and Taos Pueblo people, to make connections and build background knowledge of their Ute culture.

Students met a few of the elders of the Taos Tribe, and met Taos Pueblo War Chief, Curtis Sandoval, who welcomed us into his office and offered words of encouragement to the students and most importantly that young people should learn their Ute language, connect with their elders, and continue with their education.

The youth also enjoyed touring the Taos Pueblo community village. They learned about the old ways of village life and visited many of the Taos vendors who sell their wares from the inside of their homes.

Participants enjoyed delicious baked goods and a few of the students purchased tomahawks and arrowheads and a variety of items as gifts for their families.

The residents of Taos Pueblo were pleased to have us visit and invited the students to come back for a variety of Feast Day activities and the Taos Pueblo Powwow in July.

Students also visited the Red Willow Gardens run by the Taos Pueblo, where they were shown the crops in the green houses, met the chickens that keep the gardens healthy and bug free.

Participants learned about the gardening and harvesting processes that are used to grow their crops to sell at the farmer’s market. The chickens were a big highlight of the tour and students also got a chance to visit, and purchase some of the goods at the farmer’s market held just outside the gardens.