I’m guessing I’m not alone when I automatically make the assumption that the text I am instructed to read in a college course will be true. Due to this assumption, I failed to question the “historical facts” I was processing and learning while reading When Jesus Came, the Corn Mothers Went Away. Chapter after chapter I believed that I was learning factual evidence of the cultural background, ritual practices, spiritual beliefs, and the basic daily lives of the Pueblo Indians who inhabited early New Mexico. It wasn’t until one of my class discussions that I was told to question Ramon A. Gutierrez’s writing. Looking through his sources throughout the book made it obvious that Gutierrez provided his own opinion and other fillers to thoroughly expand the thoughts and theories he was writing about.
I felt a bit disappointed that I personally didn’t realize that everything I read in When Jesus Came, the Corn Mothers Went Away wasn’t true. I found it to be deceiving that Gutierrez filled not only my mind with false evidence, but the minds of my classmates as well. After reading multiple critiques from educated historians, I understood that my feelings toward the book were similar to others. However, based on a quote by Simon J. Ortiz, I understand that errors are common and one should be able to look beyond them because it should be obvious that not everything anyone says will be completely accurate. Ortiz stated, “Footnote errors are acceptable, even if they contain offensive or controversial material. Everyone makes mistakes.” I feel that even though everything I learned while reading the text by Gutierrez is not historically true, I will be able to apply what I learned about questioning “factual evidence” and furthermore thinking like a historian to other assignments in the future despite the author or teacher who presents the information.
Kaitlin Philpott