National
Tribe banishes Indian man for writing about ceremony


A member of Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico has been banished from another Pueblo for writing about a tribal ceremony.

Tito Naranjo went to the Deer Dance at Taos Pueblo on Christmas Day. He said he was so inspired by it that he wrote an article about what happened.

He submitted the essay for a contest sponsored by The Santa Fe New Mexican. He ended up winning the adult category and $100.

But he also got a banishment order from the Taos Pueblo. A tribal leader filed a complaint against Naranjo for writing about the ceremony. Naranjo says he believes it is necessary to put tribal decisions into writing or else they will die out.

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Dancing With Fire (The Santa Fe New Mexican 2/6)