Join us in celebrating the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center’s 50th anniversary through the stories, knowledge, and voices found in 50 special books from the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Library collection. Every week, until the end of the year, we will spotlight a specially selected title from our 50th Anniversary list for readers of all ages and interests, offering meaningful ways to explore, honor, and celebrate Pueblo culture.
This week, the library shines a spotlight on a unique item from our collection: a 4th draft of a historic, bilingual play co-written by playwrights James Lujan and Ramon Flores about the Pueblo Revolt of 1680.
Our scene opens in the year 1675 in Santa Fe Plaza. A Spanish Officer, whom the audience will later know as Francisco Xavier, addresses a soldier who brings forth a tall Native man in his 50s. Despite harsh treatment and brutal whippings, the man, whom we will discover is Popay, begins to speak amidst the lashings…
POPAY: [looking straight ahead]:
Long ago, God and Poshaiyanyi had a contest to see which one had the most power. They shot at a tree. God shot at it with a gun and cut a gash in the bark. Poshaiyanyi struck it with a bolt of lightning and split the trunk in half….”
Ramon Flores, the Artistic Director for La Compania de Teatro de Albuquerque, shared the 4th draft of this original play in early 2002 at the request of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. At that time, there was some interest in producing a play commemorating the Pueblo Revolt at the IPCC that fall. Flores advised, however, that such an endeavor would likely require more human and financial resources than expected and suggested that if production were to take place, a year or more of planning would be necessary.
The script explores the emotional and moral dilemma of Indigenous families, many of whom were divided by Spanish assimilation, and focuses on the conflict between two half-brothers, Catiti and Andres, who find themselves on opposite sides of events and conflicts leading up to the historic 1680 Pueblo Revolt.
Casi Hermanos originally premiered in 1995 and was staged by La Compania de Teatro de Albuquerque. Founded in 1977, this Albuquerque-based theater operated as a training ground and community theater for local actors until its closure in 2005.
As we near the commemoration of the 1680 Pueblo Revolt, we encourage you to visit our library and take a closer look at this script. Let your imagination reveal the stage and the sound of the actors’ voices as they portray how the fight for freedom tested the bonds of brothers and families who were forced to pick sides.
This and many other wonderful books are available to view in the IPCC Library Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. We invite you to stop by, spend time with the collection, and discover your next recommended read.