Great Leader: Po'Pay of the Tewa, c 1630-1688
One of the earliest Native revolts in the American west wasn't against the U.S., but against the Spanish, and it took a truly great leader to pull it together. Po'Pay or Pope, c 1630-1688 was a religious leader of the Tewa living at what is now San Juan Pueblo or Ohkay Owingeh. How he rose to prominence isn't recorded, but the effects of his leadership would shake Spanish New Mexico to its core for years to come. The Spanish had occupied what is now the Rio Grande area of New Mexico since 1598 and they'd shown little respect or diplomacy to the Natives. In addition to demands for land and food stuffs, they'd also demanded that the various tribes give up their Native ceremonies and ways of worship. While some Pueblo did convert to Christianity, most saw no harm with also carrying out traditions that they'd practiced since the dawn of time. Missionaries saw matters differently and continued to crack down on Native practices. Occasionally, one Pueblo band o