What's New & Happening with

TAS??

Next Speaker

May 4, 2026

Kit Carson Electric Coop Board Room at 7pm

Celinda Kaelin

Celinda Reynolds Kaelin is a third generation New Mexican who currently lives in Taos, New Mexico, with her husband Harold.  Her maternal grandfather was Cherokee, grandson of the famous Cherokee shaman, Red Bird.  Her early education took place at schools peopled by the Pueblos, and her education at College of Santa Fe was with the leaders of most Northern Pueblos.  This cultural immersion deeply imprinted her world view and led her to Lakota Way where she became a Sun Dancer for fifteen years, was adopted by the Lakota, and given the name “Elk People Woman.”
Lakota Way was also the basis for Celinda’s twenty years as adjunct professor at Colorado College, informing her classes on Indigenous Religious Traditions and Teaching Resources for Environmental Educators.  Integral to Lakota Way is the concept “Mitakuye Oyasin” – we are all related, we are all part of the web of life.  Lakota Way was also key to her ceremonial work of twenty years with the World Council of Elders which included shamans from over 100 indigenous nations.
Complementing this ceremonial work, was Celinda’s role as auditor for thirty years.  She feels that this professional training was the perfect foundation for researching and writing ethnohistory.  She has written and published eight non-fiction books and is currently at work on the fascinating story of the Picuris warrior-chief, Luis White Elk Tupatu.
Most historians accept Spanish accounts of the 1680 Pueblo Revolt and Governor Vargas’s account of the Reconquest twelve years later.  However, Celinda’s auditing instincts took over her research, and she sought corroboration for these oral histories.  This led her to the Spanish king’s official account, compiled by his historian and culled from the contemporaries of Governor De Vargas and Governor Otermin, including the shocking official report from the king’s royal prosecutor.  What these sources reveal is a vastly different picture of the Revolt and Reconquest, documenting the vital role that White Elk and his NATO (Native American Tribal Organization of 22 Pueblos) played.  Celinda will provide surprising insights on the Jekel and Hyde character of Governor Vargas and firmly put to rest the historical myth of his “peaceful” reconquest.



TOPIC
“White Elk:  The Untold Story of Picuris Pueblo’s Warrior Chief, Tupaptu”—in the 1600s, New Mexico was home to more than 60,000 Pueblo Indians.  In 1680, they finally banded together to form their own version of NATO:  Native American Treaty Organization, with War Chiefs and warriors from 22 Pueblos, led by White Elk/Tupatu of Picuris Pueblo.  He is an unsung hero, playing a vital role in the Revolt, the Reconquista, and throughout the next 25 years of New Mexico’s history, changing the course of United States history.

    Sitewatch information and forms have moved here

 TAS Virtual Lecture Series:

                              Click Here to watch recorded presentations.

History of Taos Archaeological Society Project

 An effort is currently underway to build a historical timeline of TAS events and history! We need your help!

The Taos Archaeological Society has operated for 34 years. In that time, many documents have been produced. Unfortunately, TAS does not have a complete record of documents produced and distributed.

 We are in need of documents/publications that date from September 1999 through February 2014. 

 You can help by contributing:

Past bulletins, meeting minutes, financial statements, member lists, and other communications. 

Thank you for your continued support of the Taos Archaeological Society.

Contact admin@Taosarch.org