The Tewa World: Space, Time, Being and Becoming in a Pueblo Society

By: Alfonso Ortiz

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Synopsis: &“Employing modern structural theory, Ortiz focuses on the ideas, rules, and principles of Tewa culture as they reflect in mythology, world view, and ritual.&” —Choice The complex Pueblo Indian cultures of the American Southwest have long stimulated anthropological research and speculation. In this study of the Tewa, Alfonso Ortiz explores the cosmological and ritual belief systems of a Pueblo culture as they relate to social institutions. &“Deals with issues of prime importance for contemporary social anthropological theory . . . It is the work of a young anthropologist uniquely qualified for the task. Born himself into the Tewa pueblo of San Juan, Mr. Ortiz has by virtue of both his birthright and his anthropological sophistication achieved rare insight into the Tewa culture. Taken together, these make the ingredients of an impressive book.&” —Annals of the Academy of Political and Social Science &“The combination of scholarship and traditional knowledge which are joined here gives the book a special distinction.&” —The Nation &“This is a book that springs from richness . . . valuable not only for anthropologists and sociologists . . . the interested but unskilled layman will find a treasure trove as well. One thing seems certain. If this book does not become THE authority for the scholar, it will certainly never be ignored. Ortiz has done himself and his people proud. They are both worthy of the acclamation.&” —The New Mexican