Cultural Differences Between Pueblo Indians And Their Beliefs

The Pueblo Indians much like us follow similar family units and practices. Though the terminology and some ceremonies are different the overall unity and value are the same. First in trying to understand the families, or as they call them clans, of the Pueblo Nation it is important to understand the typical “family unit”. The Pueblos are separated into many clans each clan contains people of the same ancestry. This could be anyone of close relation or distant relatives. Often times families that are not related will come together and form a clan. The typical “domestic unit” includes a mom, dad, children and often the grandparents of the children. Extended family will oftentimes occupy hereby housing as well. This tight relationship between the Pueblo Indians and their close and

Marriage within the Pueblo culture is a little different from what you might expect. All Pueblos are monogamists unlike the common misconception. The status of a woman in the Pueblo tribes is much higher than that of other tribes. In fact the decent or lineage of the tribe is traced through the mothers family not the fathers. The ceremony of tribe members is often very small and divorce is not seen as a big deal. The wife actually has the power to “dismiss” her husband even if she has little to no reason for doing so. If this does happen the man and woman of the relationship are free to marry again. This practice of divorce does not always happen however, many Pueblo men and women find love and marry only once. The labor between the spouses is, for the most part, equally distributed. The women work at home; cooking, cleaning and attending to the children. They also perform some of the “lighter farm