Episode 3: A Brief History of the American Southwest for Kids

Strangers Arrive

In July of 1540, the Ashiwi people watched as a group of armed strangers – who turned out to be Europeans – came into the desert Southwest, on horseback, and with an agenda of finding the cities of gold they had heard were located in the desert Southwest.

Part 3 of our story tells the story of the day when the A:shiwi (Zuni) people met some uninvited visitors. We hear what happened, how this moment changed the course of the history of the people already living in the desert southwest, and we see artifacts preserved from that fateful encounter.

We are joined by A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center director Curtis Quam, along with archaeologist Mary Weahkee from the New Mexico Center for Archeological Research, Pueblo educator Jon Ghahate, and Tribal Preservation Officer for the Piro-Mansa-Tiwa tribe, Diego Medina.