Repúblicas de Indios in Spanish New Mexico

This chapter traces the development of Repúblicas de Indios (Indian Republics) among the Pueblo Indians of Spanish New Mexico. It demonstrates how the Pueblos implemented Spanish directives mandating annual elections of officers, such as governors and lieutenant governors, to form an Indian town council, or ayuntamiento/cabildo. The Pueblos ultimately transformed those elections to bring them more in conformity with traditional Pueblo leadership selection practices. This chapter interrogates the importance of Pueblo officers, the governor system, and the annual elections that put them in office. These elected Pueblo officers represented their communities in dealings with the Spanish church and state. While there were abuses of office, Pueblo governors and other leaders overwhelmingly worked for the survival of their people and to retain their sacred homelands.