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San Ildefonso Painting Lines of Basket Dancers by Tonita Vigil Peña - C3875B
Tonita Vigil Peña (1893-1949) Quah Ah did not have an easy life. She lost her mother and sister when she was 12 years old and then her dad sent her from San Ildefonso, her native pueblo, to live with an aunt and uncle at Cochiti Pueblo, so she essentially lost her father at that time as well. She had to learn new customs, dances, songs and even a new language-Keres was spoken at Cochiti, rather than her native Tewa Language.
In 1908-at just 15 years old- Peña married Juan Rosario Chavez, who was 20 years old. Chavez passed away three years after their marriage. She married Felipe Herrera in 1913. He died in a work accident in 1920. Her third husband, Epitacio Arquero, outlived Tonita by a few years. They had a loving marriage and produced five children.