Enote, a farmer and artist who has worked for decades to conserve indigenous traditions worldwide, is known for his painting,
photography, and poetry; he is currently involved in artifacts repatriation and cultural mapping projects at Zuni. He is a senior advisor for Mountain Cultures at the Mountain Institute and co-director for the
international Indigenous Communities Mapping Initiative.
Enote appeals for museums to consider a variety of cultural perspectives.
He calls attention to the Zuni presence in the Four Corners and across their aboriginal territory. According to tradition, the people migrated across the Colorado Plateau from their origin in the Grand Canyon to their
present home, which is called Halona:wa or “Middle Place.” At Zuni and
elsewhere, archaeologists and historians collaborate with tribal elders to understand the past.
As a museum dedicated to serving its own community, the A:shiwi A:wan Museum reflects Zuni cultural values. “Some knowledge should be protected. There are things you can know, and things you can't. Certain people deserve
to be the keepers of that knowledge. It's a privilege, and the rest of us respect them for that,” says Enote.
Enote will also speak at Farview Lodge in Mesa Verde National Park at on Friday, July 15, at 7 p.m. Both talks are part of the 2011 Four Corners Lecture Series in partnership with Mesa Verde, Fort Lewis College, the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, and the Cortez Cultural Center, with support from KSJD Public Radio and Aramark International.
The Bureau of Land Management Anasazi Heritage Center is 3 miles west of Dolores on State Highway 184, and is open daily from 9 to 5. For more information, call the Center at (970)882-5600 or visit the museum's web
site at www.blm.gov/ahc.
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