Tosa, Paul

Paul Tosa is a tribal leader, educator and musician from Jemez Pueblo. He attended UNM and has a bachelor's degree in elementary education, with a minor in archaeology. His emphasis was Native American Pueblo history. While a student at UNM, Paul Tosa took music classes with Charlemaude Curtis, who worked at the Fine Arts Library, UNM, and was Assistant Curator of the John Donald Robb Archive of Southwestern Music. Tosa made and donated recordings of Jemez Pueblo traditional music to the Robb Archive in the late 1970s. Tosa was a teacher for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He also served as lieutenant governor and later three-time governor of Jemez Pueblo. His passion has always been improving the lives of all Native Americans and preserving and teaching others Pueblo history and traditions, especially that of Jemez. Tosa was privileged to learn the traditions, compose and sing the traditional music and become a tribal leader of Jemez Pueblo. He learned the history and songs of Jemez from his grandfather, Francisco Tosa, and his father, Joe Tosa. They both had been War Chiefs of Jemez in charge of traditional activities. Paul has also taught them to his son, Earl Tosa. The Tosas, from father to son, have been members of the Turquoise Moiety or kiva society and have always participated in the decisions, events, dances and songs of their pueblo. Following in the footsteps of Manuel Archuleta, the pioneer music preservationist of San Juan Pueblo, Tosa wants to safeguard the musical traditions of Jemez Pueblo for all future students and researchers, native and non-native. The gift of these recordings to UNM is part of that effort. Tosa is currently (2010) working on a book about the history, stories and songs of Jemez Pueblo, which he plans to publish.

From the description of Paul Tosa collection of Jemez Pueblo music. circa 1970-1975 (University of New Mexico-Main Campus). WorldCat record id: 676694308

Paul Tosa is a tribal leader, educator and musician from Jemez Pueblo. He attended the University of New Mexico and has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, with a minor in archaeology. His emphasis was Native American Pueblo history. While a student at UNM, Paul Tosa took music classes with Charlemaude Curtis, who worked at the Fine Arts Library, UNM, and was Assistant Curator of the John Donald Robb Archive of Southwestern Music. Tosa made and donated recordings of Jemez Pueblo traditional music to the Robb Archive in the late 1970s.

Tosa was a teacher for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He also served as lieutenant governor and later three-time governor of Jemez Pueblo. His passion has always been improving the lives of all Native Americans and preserving and teaching others Pueblo history and traditions, especially that of Jemez.

Tosa was privileged to learn the traditions, compose and sing the traditional music and become a tribal leader of Jemez Pueblo. He learned the history and songs of Jemez from his grandfather, Francisco Tosa, and his father, Joe Tosa. They both had been War Chiefs of Jemez in charge of traditional activities. Paul has also taught them to his son, Earl Tosa. The Tosas, from father to son, have been members of the Turquoise Moiety or kiva society and have always participated in the decisions, events, dances and songs of their pueblo.

Following in the footsteps of Manuel Archuleta, the pioneer music preservationist of San Juan Pueblo, Tosa wants to safeguard the musical traditions of Jemez Pueblo for all future students and researchers, native and non-native. The gift of these recordings to UNM is part of that effort. Tosa is currently (2010) working on a book about the history, stories and songs of Jemez Pueblo, which he plans to publish.

From the guide to the Paul Tosa Collection of Jemez Pueblo Music, circa 1970-1975, (University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research)