Zia Pueblo-Crow Dance
Crow Dance
Evangeline D Chavez 2010
The crow dance was created by Zian, Jose Pino in 1920. While in Grants, New Mexico he and other tribal members needed money to travel 125 miles to home , Zia Pueblo. What resulted was an entertaining and humorous performance. The crow dance took first place at the Gallup Intertribal Ceremony in the 1930’s. The last performance for non Indians was in 1954. Meant to mimic the crow, several black and red-painted men, donned in horse hair, eagle feathers, skunk skirted moccasins, bells, breech-cloth, and an arrow enacting a crow’s beak. The fly, flit, and gambol like the curious bird they are. Often a white crow, enters to become the blunt of playful joking throughout the dance.
Enjoyed the story as much as the photo.
Love both photographs, Evangeline. thanks for sharing about this dance!