Technological Change and Industrialization among the Southern Pueblos

Abstract

Among the Southern pueblos, decreases in the amount of irrigable acreage for agricultural purposes show a positive correlation with the rising importance of other means of livelihood. Population pressures, changes in the eco-system, and education have all contributed to the acceptance of industrialization and modernization, as well as a loss in native culture. A possible solution could be the development of a socibcultural model to cancel out the dichotomy and contradictions between technological innovation and Indian tradition - a solution easier stated than accomplished. A study of technological change among the Southern Pueblos reveals that the historically agrarian nature of their society is in transition, and today varies in degree of urbanization and industrialization from pueblo to pueblo with loss in native culture a by-product of this phenomenon.l Agriculture and livestock raising were still the major means of livelihood until the 1940's, when wage work, construction projects, the railroads, and government relocation programs replaced them (Dozier 1970:9). Although farming and cattle raising are still conducted on a limited scale, the majority of the Pueblos have some form of industrialization to assist in providing employment. Motivating factors for this transition were population pressures and deficiencies in the eco-system. The impact of these factors is explained by their direct relation to the economic survival of the Pueblos, for the traditional harmony of the Indian with his environment has been destroyed. Water and territorial disputes involving Pueblo lands are a matter of historical record and a source of continuing trouble illustrated by the case of Aamodt vs. the State of New Mexico now in federal court. Investigations conducted by John Collier, who was to become Indian Commissioner, showed that between 1922 and 1930, there had been practically no increases of irrigated land in pueblos around the Santa Fe area and that the amount