By:

Reece MayfieldMrs. Smalley

October 22, 2011

The Tigua first lived in Pueblo Gran Quivera, which is north of El Paso in the Manzano Mountains southeast of Albuquerque.

Most of El Paso is built on land taken from the Tigua.

They still live in El Paso.

Tiguas were good farmers and hunters. They raised corn, beans, squash, and

sunflowers. They hunted deer, antelope, and small

animals like rabbits . They also gathered nuts, fruits, and herbs. Their favorite food were hominy, popcorn,

baked beans, soups, and cornbread.

Tiguas like to hunt and fish.

They like storytelling, music and art.

They are good at making pottery, jewelry, and baskets.

Tigua perform many of the old ceremonies, dances and songs.

They have a drum that is very old that is used in these ceremonies.

The drum has been handed down for generations and no one knows how old it is.

The Tigua Indians like to dance.

In the dances, they have north, south, east, and west to honor all directions.

The Butterfly Dance is held around Easter to give thanks to nature.

Tigua Indians go to Catholic mass at the mission church. Saint Anthony is their patron saint.

In 1682, Tiguas had become Christians and built a mission church at Ysleta.

The Ysleta mission is the oldest church in Texas and the oldest mission in Texas.

Important religious ceremonies also are done at every stage of the farming season.

The main difference between Tigua Indians and other Indian tribes are their houses.

Tigua Indians build Pueblos. Many families live in one

Pueblo. Many Pueblos had hundreds

of people living in them. Some Pueblos were 4 or 5

stories high.

Pueblo is Spanish and means "town".

A Pueblo is also a big building with many rooms in it.

In 1680 Tigua Indians helped drive the Spanish out of New Mexico and down to El Paso.

The Spanish King gave them a grant of land around their Pueblo. This gave them title to the land.

The Tigua are the only Pueblo tribe still in Texas.

The Tigua also have contributed to Texas culture through their art and dance.

In 1848, crooked settlers stole much of the Tigua land from them.

The State of Texas ignored the Spanish land grant and title of the land to the Tigua Indians.

Most of El Paso is built on land taken from the Tigua. This left the Tigua very poor.

Only the land around the Ysleta mission and their houses is still theirs.

http://www.bigorrin.org/pueblo_kids.htm

http://dnn.epcc.edu/nwlibrary/borderlands/17_tigua_indians.htm

http://livebinders.com/play/play_shared_binder/32036

http://www.texasindians.com/tigua.htm