Ysleta del Sur Pueblo (or Tigua Pueblo) is a Native American Pueblo tribal entity in the Ysleta section of El Paso, Texas. Its members were South Tiwa people who had fled Spanish New Mexico from 1680-1681 during the Pueblo Rebellion against Spain.
See Other Native American Tribe in the United States
The people and the language are called Tigua (pronounced Tiwa). They have maintained their tribal identity and land in Texas. Although Spanish had replaced mainly their native language in the early 1900s, English is now growing in the Tigua Pueblo community. But now, the people of Tigua Pueblo are trying to revive their native language. They are one of Texas' three federally recognized tribes.
History of Ysleta del Sur Pueblo / Tigua Pueblo
Ysleta del Sur Pueblo (Pueblo) is a tribe currently federally recognized as the sovereign state of the United States. The tribal community known as "Tigua" founded Ysleta del Sur in 1682. Due to a drought, Tigua sought refuge in Isleta Pueblo and was later captured by the Spanish during the Pueblo Rebellion of 1680 and forced to march south for more than 400 miles. After leaving their homeland, Quarai Pueblo.
Tigua settled and built Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and soon after built the acequia (canal) system that supported the thriving agriculture-based community. The Tribe's early economic and agricultural efforts helped pave the way for the region's development.
See also: Caddo Tribe - Native American, Oklahoma Tribe Crossword
Throughout the nineteenth century and into the first half of the twentieth century, Tiguas maintained the syncretic Spanish-Native political and religious office introduced by the Spanish in the sixteenth century. Like other Pueblos, Tiguas has an office that includes a Cacique (chief), who serves for life as well as in spiritual affairs, Lieutenant-cacique, Governor, Lieutenant governor, War Captain, and subordinate captain.
Lacking a well-defined federal Indian reservation, the Tiguas intermarried extensively with Mexican Americans. They assimilated many of the cultural and material traits of their Hispanic neighbors. Many Isleta Pueblo customs and traditions, as well as the Tiwa language, were lost over time. Local newspapers regularly report on Tiguas' tribal elections and significant religious celebrations on St. Anthony in honor of St. Anthony, the patron saint of the church and their missionary community.
Important to their later federal and tribal recognition, in 1901, the renowned anthropologist Jesse Walter Fewkes (Mesa Verde) visited Ysleta del Sur as part of a trip to study Pueblos, New Mexico. Paying attention to their assimilation or "Mexicanization," Fewkes published a brief ethnographic article detailing the Pueblo customs and traditions in Tiguas.
He found that twenty-five could still speak Tiwa while many more could understand it. He noted that Tiguas still perform some original dances, including the scalp and rattle. The ceremony is accompanied by singing in the Tiwa language.
Tiguas still call their community Tigua's name, "Chiawipia." The group continues to hold elections for tribal officers. At the time, Littlekes wrote that José Piarote was Cacique, Mariano Manero was Governor, and Tomal Granillo was War Captain. Significantly, Manero still carries the baton or office staff that Fewkews concluded is the same as those carried by the leaders at New Mexico Pueblos.
The Tiguas, like many unrecognized Indian tribes, did not seek federal assistance during President Franklin D. Roosevelt's historic Indian New Deal in the 1930s. However, they are still recognized as indigenous by local and state officials. The Tribe was invited to participate in the 1936 Texas Centennial Celebration in Dallas. Dressed in Plains Indian regalia, Tiguan officials participated in the opening ceremony parade. At the time, Tigua's leader named Franklin Roosevelt "Honorary Cacique" and Eleanor Roosevelt "Honorary Squaw."
In the 1950s, the Tigua community was in a dire state. After losing their precious tribal land, most members live in poverty near the old mission church. While others move to other parts of El Paso for better economic opportunities. That decade society was threatened when the City of El Paso annexed Ysleta, imposing new taxes. Tigua's leaders reached out for help.
In 1961, the Mayor of El Paso wrote to the Bureau of Indian Affairs asking for help for the group. Since this happened during the Ending Era when the US government "went out of India's business" and ended tribal and reservation government, the government disclaims any responsibility for the Tiguas.
As part of Tiguas' outreach for aid, the University of Arizona Department of Anthropology sent a graduate student to study the group in 1966. He conducted a census, finding that 166 individuals served as the core of the Tigua community while others were more involved peripherally.
The scholar reports that Tiguas still maintain St. Antonius, their tribal dances, and traditional songs. The war captain, Trinidad Granillo, still maintains his home's tribal ceremonial center (kiva). He also keeps a drum or sacred tribal tomb revered for its spiritual power.
The 1960s were pivotal years in Tigua Community's history.. With the help of a Latino friend, Tiguas reaches out to a young lawyer, Tom Diamond, to help them in their economic struggles. Diamond, a vocal supporter of Democratic President John F. Kennedy's liberal agenda and his successor Lyndon Johnson, agreed to help the group.
Diamond helps the Tiguas reconnect with their relatives in Isleta Pueblo, New Mexico. Under Diamond, Tiguas pursued a significant land claim case through the post-war India Claims Commission. This effort resulted in considerable documentation of the survival of the Tiguas tribe. The governor, Andy Abieta, visited Tiguas and was surprised by the level of Isleta tradition that the band still maintains. He became a staunch supporter of the band.
In 1966, Diamond helped introduce Tiguas to Vine Deloria, Jr., a scholar of The famous Lakota who, at that time, served as Executive Director of the American Indian National Congress (NCAI). The NCAI lobbied for the Tiguas to be recognized as a federally recognized Indian tribe.
Deloria also featured Tiguas prominently in his seminal book, Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto, highlighting the band as an important symbol of the continuity of indigenous values in modern American society. As part of efforts to secure status and favor for the band, Diamond gained the support of the Texas delegation to Congress and the Senate for the recognition of the Tigua tribe.
Due to discontinuation sentiment in Congress, federal officials were unwilling to grant full federal tribal recognition at the time. The Ysleta band, as a result, were only recognized as Tigua Indians in El Paso in 1967 as Texas Indians; House Bill 888 passed during the 60th Legislative, Regular Session, transferring all trust responsibilities for Tigua Indians to the Texas Indian Commission.
On April 12, 1968, Congress passed Public Law 90-287 82 Stat. 93 The United States Congress transferred all responsibility for the Tiwa Indians of Ysleta, Texas, to the State of Texas. The Tiwa Indians Act, borrowing verbatim from the Lumbee Indian Act of the mid-1950s, stipulates that tribal members are not eligible for any service, claim, or claim from the United States as Indians.
Under Texas jurisdiction, the state makes reservations for Tiguas. Tiguas and state officials created an economic development program. The most important thing is the tourism business on the reservation. Here Tiguas is hired to demonstrate indigenous crafts and ways of life. During the 1970s, there was the great public interest in Native Americans, and the program was successful for a time.
However, it became clear to the Tiguas and their non-indigenous supporters that limited state aid and economic development programs were not sufficient for the survival of the Tribe. Without federal, tribal status, Tiguas have no access to the Bureau of Indian Affairs' federal programs; they cannot exercise true self-government without federal tribal recognition.
Public Law 100-89, 101 STAT. 666 was promulgated on August 18, 1987, and restored federal and tribal relations simultaneously with the Alabama-Coushatta tribe. The restoration act renamed the Tribe Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo, repealed the Tiwa Indian Tribe Act, and specifically banned all gaming activities prohibited by Texas state law. Tigua has maintained continuous federal relations since 1987.
See also: Karankawa Tribe - One of the Extinct Native Americans.
A United States Congress act restored eligibility for federal government services to this group, the southernmost Tribe of the Pueblo community. In addition, the state of Texas recognizes the Tribe. The other two tribes in Texas also have federal and state recognition, while two additional tribes have only state recognition. In April 2008, the Tribal Census Department reported 1,615 registered members.
For nearly 40 years, Pueblo has owned and operated a tribal business that provides jobs for its members and the El Paso community. These businesses include the Speaking Rock Entertainment Centre, Big Bear Oil Co., Inc., and the Tigua Indian Cultural Centre.
Members of Ysleta del Sur Pueblo
In 2020, there were 4,696 registered members of Ysleta del Sur Pueblo.
Tribal Government
In 2022, E. Michael Silvas will be the governor of Ysleta del Sur Pueblo. [1] The 2021 Tribal Council consists of Sheriff Bernardo Gonzales, Councilor Rudy Cruz Jr., Councilor Rafael Gomez Jr., Governor E. Michael Silvas, Cacique Jose Sierra Sr., Lieutenant Governor Adam Torres, War Captain Javier Loera, Councilor Raul Candelaria, Board Member Andrew Torrez.
In 2020, the tribal government employed 293 people, of whom 58% were tribal.
See Other Native American Tribe in the United States
The following are the names and dates of Tigua's public ceremonies for those interested in attending: Dia de San Antonio is celebrated on June 13, Dia de San Juan is celebrated on June 24, Dia de San Pedro y Pablo is celebrated on June 29, Dia de Santa Kateri Tekakwitha is celebrated on July 14, Dia de Santiago is celebrated on July 25, Dia de Santa Ana is celebrated on July 26, and Pueblo Reunion Day is celebrated on October 12.
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