Events

Preparing for Lectures, Pilgrimages and Reading Circles

Each kind of gathering asks something a little different of the people who come. A few practical notes can make the experience richer and more respectful, especially in a region where living communities still hold many of the places and traditions we study.

Before a lecture

Lectures work best when listeners arrive with a question of their own. If a talk touches on a particular pueblo, trade route or ceremonial cycle, it helps to skim related material beforehand. Our longform chapters and the library are a good starting point. Notice where a speaker draws on archaeology, where on oral tradition and where on archival records. Each source tells a different part of the story.

On the road to sacred sites

Many places in the Southwest that draw visitors are sacred to the Pueblo, Navajo, Apache and other Native nations. Some sites are managed by the National Park Service, some by tribal governments, and some are private land. Rules on photography, sketching, recording and access can differ a great deal from one place to the next. As general good practice:

• Check the managing authority's current guidance before you travel, because closures for ceremonies or conservation are common.
• Stay on marked trails and never move, collect or touch artifacts, rock art or masonry.
• Ask before photographing people, and accept a refusal gracefully.
• Prepare for high desert conditions. Bring water, sun protection and layers, because altitude and sudden weather change quickly around Santa Fe.

Joining a reading circle

Reading circles are conversations rather than seminars. You don't need to finish every page or bring expertise. A passage that puzzled or moved you is often the best contribution. We try to read Indigenous authors and historians alongside older ethnographic accounts, so the group can compare who is telling the story and why. Notes from past discussions often find their way into our field notes.

Dates, locations and any registration details are announced individually. Confirm them before making travel plans. If you have questions about accessibility or what to bring, please get in touch through our contact page.