When you perform the Buffalo Ram Dance, what do you hope community members and visitors take away about the Pueblo of Acoma, its culture, and its enduring relationship with the land?

Well, good afternoon.

My name is Philip Garcia and I am from the Pueblo of Acoma.

I come from the Big Sun clan on my mother's side and a Little Turkey clan on my father's

side.

And I think for me, when I'm out there performing, you know, my hope for the people is that they take some of this good feeling, right? The good energy that comes from the songs, from the movements, from the different colors, everything that we have, that they take that with them and they use it in a good way, you know, that it connects their spirit with whatever good energy that we're providing.

How are you working to ensure these songs, dances, and cultural teachings are passed on to future generations of Acoma youth?

Our thing is to bring in the new individuals and teach them while they're young to get them, you know, interested in dancing and moving and, you know, in the songs, you know, learning how to sing, learning how to drum, you know, also, you know, taking care of whatever stuff that they have, whether it's their shells or their bells, you know, everything that it has, it serves a purpose in the dance.

[laughs]

[laughs] We're in love, though.

We're shitting with the door open, which is great.

Uh, I know ...

Yeah, it, it's good.

That's a good place to be.

Uh, the other day she got really scared, though.

Does she sing Latina?