The Indians of Cochiti Pueblo claim the famed cave dwellings and ruins
of the Rito de Frijoles (Bandelier National Monument) as their ancestral
home. Failure of timber and water resources plus the constant attack of
the various Apache Indian tribes over several centuries caused the
residents of the Rito de Frijoles to seek a better home. This probably
occurred about 1200 A.D. In 1598, when Juan de Oñate, colonizer of New
Mexico, arrived, the Indians of Cochiti were living in their present
village. For a short time following the reconquest of New Mexico by de
Vargas after the Pueblo Revolt, the people of Cochiti lived in Cañada de
Cochiti, which was in a better position for defense against Spanish
reconquest. In 1694, de Vargas took the canyon village by storm, burned
it, and forced the people to return to the older village of Cochiti
where they remain to this day.
The population of the village is slightly more than 300, and there has
been little growth in the past thirty years. Like the other New Mexico
pueblos, the main occupation is agriculture. Their ancient traditions
are well preserved, among them the well-known Rain Dance held during the
annual festival of San Buenaventura in July.
Located at the pueblo is the ancient and beautiful Spanish mission, San
Buenaventura de Cochiti, built in the early seventeenth century. To step
into this church is to return to the Spanish days of yore. There are no
seats, women kneel on one side, the men on the other, and the services
are a mixture of old world orthodoxy and new world Indian traditions.
Cochiti represents one of the finest examples of modern Pueblo Indian
life.