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Mary hoped to write a book about the Taos Pueblo view of the assassination: that they were framed. Feathers were found at the scene of the death which Mary said were not of Taos Pueblo origin. Secretly, the entire pueblo felt the Taos area Spaniards (who had occupied their land before the Americans) had killed Governor Bent and left evidence they thought would implicate the Taos Pueblo. As punishment for the assassination of Bent, the "Blue Coats", as Mary called them to me, hanged "three-quarters" of the men from the Taos Pueblo. Since that time there is an uneasy peace between Native Americans and Hispanic Americans in Taos NM.

First the Spainards came to the Taos Pueblo area and the residents drove them off. Then they came again, led by Don Juan de Onate in 1598, and this time they stayed. Onate is known for his very cruel treatment of Native Americans including cutting off the feet of prisoners so they could not escape. Then came the US of A which took the land away from both the Taos Pueblo and the Spaniards (taking all of NM actually), although the Spanish land grants held sway and even today many people inherit land from their families from those grants. Taos Pueblo was granted certain reservation lands which includes the historic Taos Pueblo structure.

Click for Taos Pueblo website

When you go to Taos you can visit the Governor Bent Home and Museum on Bent Street there, but keep in mind, when talking with local residents, that there are two stories about Governor Bent's demise. There are seven other museums in the Taos area you might also like to visit.