Santa Fe Indian Market

This morning is the opening of the annual Santa Fe Indian Market. Elyn and I walked over to the Plaza for the opening ceremonies and to see some of the wonderful art, jewelry, and crafts that are featured there. To be there at 7 AM for the opening prayer we left the house at 6:30. Thousands of tourists are in town for the market and the area several blocks around the Plaza is crowded with booths and people. We saw license plates from all over the country. The Indian Market is known all over the world and people often return year after year to purchase the best in Native American art.

The ceremony opened with an elder from the Hopi Nation saying an extended prayer that moved smoothly from Hopi to English and back again. He blessed us all with his eagle feather covered with corn pollen. Then the Black Eagle Singers from Jemez Pueblo performed the flag song, the warrior’s song, and several other numbers from the plains indian tradition. This group of some dozen men and one woman are the best drummers and singers I have heard. Their precision and spirit is amazing and they deserve the Grammy that they have been awarded. To be able to walk from our home to participate in such a wonderful event is a real privilege of living here in Santa Fe.

We walked home, passing by the new Virgin de Guadalupe statue that has just been dedicated. This statue is next to the historic Santaurio de Guadalupe, which is only about four blocks from our home.

One amusing and telling event was the introduction of the Black Eagle Singers by a member of the group. He named each singer, telling his relationship with him as he went around the group. It was only after the next number that someone in the group reminded him that he had not introduced the woman in the group. He took the mike again and gave her an introduction. We learned that she was also a member of his immediate family. As telling as this little gaff is, I remind myself that a generation ago no women were ever allowed to sing in the drum groups. I believe that women came in when there were not enough good male singers to make the groups function. Plains Indian singing is very high pitched and puts much strain on the male voice and they can’t keep it up for long periods of time. Adding women, who can sing in their normal vocal range, makes for security in the singing. These singers and drummers are simply the best I have ever heard and their performance brought tears to my eyes and hair standing on end all over my body. Electrifying.