Tiwa Bingo Night
TAOS PUEBLO HELD the first-ever Tiwa Bingo Night at the tribe’s community center this past Friday night (Sept. 9) The event was hosted by TPACT (Taos Pueblo Awareness Coalition Team) and aided by multiple tribal programs. The huge crowd of bingo players enjoyed food, company, and laughter, all in their language, as the game went on.
Tiwa Bingo Night was a first for Taos Pueblo and made possible by an honorarium awarded to TPACT by the Fresh Tracks Community, Call to Action: To Honor Native American Heritage. The Fresh Tracks community is a multistakeholder initiative anchored by the Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions. With Native American Heritage Month coming up in November, Fresh Tracks and TPACT remind us that the celebration, reconciliation, and history of Native Americans should continue to be honored and recognized every day. Bingo night was a new way for the tribe to not only bring young and old together but also teach their ancient language in a new, fun way.
TPACT wanted to support the ideas of the Taos Pueblo Youth Coalition.
In an email to Tempo TPACT stated, “TPACT is supporting the Youth Coalition, a sub-coalition for prevention efforts, focused on giving youth a voice and doing things that are important to youth, through the funding of prizes and helping to organize the event.”
TPACT Coordinator Jordan Romero reports “Angela Lujan, Youth Coalition Member, suggested we have a bingo night as a fun activity.” TPACT dedicates a portion of their budget to alternative youth activities like rock climbing, rafting and trips to places like Universal Studios Florida, but also to support youth-led initiatives like the Pueblo Pantry (a free community food pantry box) and events like Tiwa Bingo Night.
The idea to hold a Tiwa language bingo night was met with enthusiasm and excitement. The event filled the Taos Pueblo Community Center and Recovery Works volunteers had to set up additional tables for the growing crowd of participants. Recovery Works also helped with registration. TPACT and the Taos Pueblo Youth Coalition partnered with the Tiwa Language Program and Recovery Works program to
organize and put on the event.
Tiwa Bingo is not your average game. In place of corresponding letters and numbers, Card Dabbers (participants) had to translate and cover different words and icons as Bingo Callers, Alice Martinez and Rosenda Mondragon-Adams, of the Tiwa Language Program, called them out. It was the Tiwa Language Program who helped the Youth Coalition and TPACT with the language for the game. “We are working with the Tiwa Language Program at the Education Dept. to get help with the words and Taos Pueblo Youth Outreach is helping us with the organization and food,” said Romero.
Taos Pueblo Youth Outreach members helped serve food and drinks to bingo-ers before and during the games. Naomi Concha, Taos Pueblo Youth Outreach Coordinator said, “I love that we’re incorporating the Tiwa language and I want to keep doing more and more events like this.”
During the games participants young and old could be seen exchanging strategies and tales of missing the elusive BINGO by a square or two. The event was a success as Tiwa Bingo
Night accomplished what coordinators and volunteers set out to do: bring youth and elders together for some good ol’ fashion family fun.
Tribal Programs Administrator Shawn Duran was among the participants and told Tempo, “I really enjoy this type of event and we need more. I’m happy to see a lot of the community members participate.”
Taos Pueblo elder Geronimo Romero jokingly told Tempo, “First time we have an Indian card, that’s the true way to play Bingo. But I gotta win! The little ones are winning!” Prizes for the evening were a combination of kitchen and household item bundles and tote bags filled with family games and sports equipment. The real prize of the night however, was the coming together of family and friends.
“I love all the people coming out,” said participant Ellery Martinez.
The event was the brain-child of Taos Pueblo youth and those youngsters are playing a larger and larger role in the future of their people and their culture. The Taos Pueblo youth continue to set the bar higher as they work to protect that future and preserve their culture. Tiwa Bingo Night is yet another example of their outside-thebox creativity brought to a head with the guidance and counsel of a team of tribal members whose dedication to their community is a shining example to those youths.