Fed Them Cactus by Fabiola

¶ … Fed Them Cactus" by Fabiola Cabeza de Baca and "A Zuni Life" by Virgil Wyaco. Specifically, it will compare the two books. Each of these books is quite important in New Mexican history, because they represent two of the cultures who settled and created what is now the state of New Mexico. One of the memoirs is told from the Spanish and Hispanic point-of-view, while the other gives a Native American point-of-view. Both of these views are essential in understanding the foundation of New Mexico's colorful history. They illustrate two very different and diverse cultures that have had to blend together and survive hardships in order to create the modern state of New Mexico.

In "We Fed Them Cactus," the descendent of a Spanish conquistador remembers her family's ranch in the Llano Estacado (great or Staked Plains) of New Mexico, and she celebrates her Spanish ancestry. She also gives a rich account of the geography, politics, and culture of New Mexico in the early days of settlement, and shows how so much of the fabric of New Mexico depends on the Hispanics who settled the area hundreds of years ago. One of the details she covers is the many names that have come from Spanish sources throughout the state. She also follows the history into the twentieth century when she taught school in a tiny schoolhouse in rural New Mexico.

De Baca discusses ranching and sheepherding, the adobe ranchos of the area, the rodeos, the natural world, the music, lifestyle, and culture of her friends and neighbors. She is steeped in the Hispanic culture of the area, and stresses that over all other New Mexican cultures and experiences. She also talks about how the Comanches and the Hispanics managed to live together in relative harmony for over a century until the American ranchers came and drove the Natives from their homeland. Eventually, they ran the ranchers off much of their land, as well.

Wyaco's book, "A Zuni Life" discusses his life in the Pueblo of Zuni from a Native American point-of-view. He relates some of the folklore of his people, how they lived in the Zuni pueblo, the poverty they experienced, Indian Schools, and his growth from youth to young man. He talks a lot about his experiences during World War II, and his struggle to make something of himself after the war ends. After achieving success in the white world, he returns to Zuni and becomes a respected tribal leader.

Both the writers have a wonderful sense of the land and the geography. It is clear from their descriptions that the land was important, even vital to their lives, and their descriptions show a part of the country that has nearly disappeared. De Baca notes there are springs and lakes even in this arid environment. She writes, "It is unbelievable that in a country where rain is scant, there can be so many springs gushing from the earth in the most secluded places. There are lakes all along the land, some made by rains, some fed by springs from the hills."

Wyaco writes of the importance of his connection to the natural world after his retirement. He says, "We have two acres in the back yard in which my wife and I keep a garden, much of it in sweet corn and chile. My wife insists on growing onions, carrots, cabbages, radishes, and tomatoes as well, like the traditional Zuni woman she is. I do a lot of weeding."

Rain is part of the natural world that both writers celebrate, as well. In an arid desert land, it is not surprising rain plays an important part in both the books. De Baca writes, "Rain for us made history. It brought to our minds days of plenty, of happiness and security, and in recalling past events, if they fell on rainy years, we never failed to stress that fact."

Wyaco's book opens with the statement that it snowed on the day he was born, and then defines rain and snow for the reader. He calls the rain "blessed," and this indicates how it dominates life throughout this arid country. Clearly, rain is important in the desert southwest, which is why it is such a common and important thread in the two books.

The viewpoints of the two books could not be more diverse. De Baca writes of others in a somewhat detached third person. She does speak of herself at times, and her memories are warm and loving, and greatly detailed. However, this is not a story about her; it is a story about the land and the people. On the other hand, Wyaco's story is all about his interaction with his culture, and his attempts to blend into two different cultures relatively seamlessly. Reading them together gives a more complete view of New Mexican history, but they are very different in their styles and what they attempt to accomplish.

There are many other differences between these books, as well. De Baca's work covers an earlier point in New Mexican history, and concentrates on the Hispanic and white history of the area. In fact, her book never mentions the Zuni tribe even once, and the Zuni were one of the Native American tribes present in New Mexico long before the conquistadors conquered Mexico and took the area as their own. Her book covers the ranching history of the area, while Wyaco's book covers his birth to nearly present day. De Baca's work shows how at home she feels in New Mexico, and how she feels it "belongs" to her people. Wyaco, on the other hand, feels disenfranchised, unable to live as he wants in his own country because of prejudice and hatred by the Whites. He notes, "Our traditional enemies, the Navaho and the Hispanics, no longer threaten us. Everyone else is lumped under the term 'Anglo' throughout the southwest, though the Zuni called them 'Whites.'"

Perhaps the biggest commonality between these two books is their portrayal of new settlers coming into the region and wresting the area away from those natives already settled there. De Baca writes, "Cattle companies began to push forward and the New Mexican sheepman and small cattleman, who was usually a lone owner, could not hold out against the powerful syndicates. The war was on between two contenders, neither of whom had a deed to the land."