SEDONA, Ariz. — History is often written by the victors, but it is preserved by the storytellers. In a new educational initiative designed to bring the overlooked chapters of Southwestern history to light, Sedona Poet Laureate Gary Every has launched a free public lecture series.
Hosting his presentations at the Sedona Winds Independent Living community in the Village of Oak Creek, Every aims to challenge conventional narratives of colonial exploration, indigenous encounters, and the lost landmarks of Arizona.
His inaugural lecture, delivered on August 7, reframed the traditional understanding of the Spanish conquest. Every revealed to an engaged audience that the first non-native explorer to step foot in what is now the American Southwest was not a armored Spanish noble, but rather an enslaved African Muslim man named Esteban de Dorantes.
Through this series, Every seeks to dismantle romanticized myths of the conquistadors and replace them with the complex, multicultural, and often harrowing realities of the 16th-century borderlands.
Main Facts: Deconstructing the Myth of the Conquistador
For centuries, textbook accounts of the exploration of Arizona and New Mexico have highlighted Spanish explorers such as Francisco Vázquez de Coronado and Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca. However, Every’s lecture focused on the pivotal, yet frequently marginalized, role of Esteban de Dorantes (also known historically as Estevanico).
"The first post-Columbian explorer, again and again in the Southwest, was this Black Muslim man," Every explained to the audience. "Not how we picture conquistadors."
[1527: Narváez Expedition Departs Spain]
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[1528: Shipwreck off Texas Coast]
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[1528–1536: 5,000-Mile Foot Journey to Culiacán]
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[1539: Esteban Leads Scout Expedition to Cíbola]
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[1539: Esteban's Death at Hawikuh]Esteban’s journey began in bondage but transformed into one of the most remarkable feats of survival and diplomacy in human history. As one of only four survivors of the disastrous 1527 Narváez Expedition, Esteban spent eight years traversing thousands of miles of uncharted territory on foot. During this odyssey, he evolved from a slave into a crucial scout, translator, and respected healer, navigating complex tribal networks using sign language and exceptional linguistic adaptability.
Every’s lecture series aims to highlight these nuance-rich histories, offering residents of the Verde Valley a deeper appreciation of the region’s diverse heritage. The next installment of the series, scheduled for Friday, September 25, will shift focus to the local landscape, exploring ghost towns, American Indian ruins, and the lesser-known historical sites of the Verde Valley.
Chronology: The Extraordinary Odyssey of Esteban de Dorantes
To understand the magnitude of Esteban’s impact on Southwestern history, one must trace the chronological collapse of Spain’s early colonial ambitions in North America and the unexpected survival story that followed.
1527: The Ill-Fated Narváez Expedition
The expedition departed Spain in June 1527 under the command of Pánfilo de Narváez, authorized by Emperor Charles V to conquer and govern Florida. Armed with five ships and roughly 600 men—including Esteban, who was enslaved by Captain Andrés Dorantes de Carranza—the fleet was plagued by misfortune from the start. A severe hurricane struck the expedition in Cuba, destroying ships and claiming lives before they even reached the mainland.
1528: Landfall, Conflict, and Shipwreck
In April 1528, the remnants of the expedition landed on the western coast of Florida. Narváez made the fatal strategic decision to split his forces, sending his ships away while leading 300 men inland.
The Spanish quickly found themselves outmatched. They marched into the territory of the Apalachee, whose archers utilized powerful bows capable of driving arrows clean through Spanish plate armor.
With their horses slaughtered for food, their weapons melted down to construct crude, makeshift wooden barges, and their numbers decimated by disease and warfare, the remaining men attempted to sail across the Gulf of Mexico toward Spanish settlements in Texas. In September 1528, a violent storm wrecked the rafts near Galveston Island, Texas.
1528–1536: The 5,000-Mile Wanderings
Of the 80 men who survived the shipwreck, only four remained alive by 1534:
- Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca (Treasurer of the expedition)
- Alonso del Castillo Maldonado
- Andrés Dorantes de Carranza
- Esteban de Dorantes
For several years, the men were held captive by various indigenous groups along the Gulf Coast. As they moved westward across Texas and Northern Mexico, the survivors adapted. They began practicing faith healing, combining Catholic rituals with indigenous medical practices.
Esteban proved to be the indispensable key to their survival. Gifted in linguistics, he mastered sign language and multiple indigenous dialects, acting as the primary scout and negotiator.
By July 1536, after walking an estimated 5,000 miles across the American Southwest and Northern Mexico, the four men walked out of the wilderness and into the Spanish outpost of Culiacán (modern-day Sinaloa, Mexico).
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| THE SURVIVORS OF THE NARVÁEZ EXPEDITION |
+--------------------------+--------------------------+-------------------+
| Name | Original Status | Role in Journey |
+--------------------------+--------------------------+-------------------+
| Cabeza de Vaca | Royal Treasurer | Leader / Chronicler|
| Castillo Maldonado | Captain / Nobleman | Healer |
| Andrés Dorantes | Captain / Slaveowner | Officer |
| Esteban de Dorantes | Enslaved Moorish Muslim | Scout / Translator|
+--------------------------+--------------------------+-------------------+1539: The Final Journey to Cíbola
The survivors’ reports of vast, wealthy lands to the north ignited gold fever in Mexico City. Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza sought to launch a massive reconnaissance mission to locate the legendary "Seven Cities of Gold" (Cíbola).
Because the three Spanish survivors declined to return to the wilderness, Mendoza purchased Esteban from Dorantes to serve as the guide for a Franciscan friar, Marcos de Niza.
Esteban marched ahead of Fray Marcos, establishing a communication system using wooden crosses to signal the size of the settlements he encountered. In May 1539, Esteban reached the Zuni pueblo of Hawikuh (near modern-day Gallup, New Mexico), making him the first non-indigenous person to establish contact with the Pueblo peoples of the Southwest. It was here that his historic journey came to an abrupt and violent end.
Supporting Data: Legal Precedents, Demographics, and Historical Context
Every’s lecture did not shy away from the brutal structural realities of Spanish colonization. Central to his presentation was the exploration of the requerimiento (the "Requirement"), a highly controversial legal document drafted by the Spanish crown in 1513.
The Legal Absurdity of the Requerimiento
The requerimiento was a written declaration of divine sovereignty, asserting that the Pope had donated the Americas to the Spanish monarchs. Conquistadors were legally mandated to read this document to indigenous populations before commencing military action.
"They would read something called the requerimiento on all the beaches, every place they landed," Every explained. "Saying, ‘The Pope gave you to us. If you don’t become a Christian immediately, we can do whatever we want with you.’ But they claimed it was a legal precedent."
The document was routinely read in Spanish to indigenous populations who could not understand it. On many occasions, Spanish captains read it from the decks of ships to empty coastlines, or to sleeping villagers, simply to satisfy the bureaucratic requirements of the Spanish crown before launching raids.
Demographic Collapse in the Proto-Historic Southwest
As Esteban and his companions traveled across the continent, they walked through a landscape devastated by Old World pathogens. Long before Spanish armies arrived to colonize the region, diseases like smallpox, measles, and influenza—carried ahead of the explorers by intertribal trade networks—wreaked havoc on indigenous communities.
Every emphasized the sheer scale of this demographic tragedy to his audience: "Life is hard. Disease and plague are going ahead of the conquistadors… Eighty percent of the populations of the Native Americans in these regions are dying in a few years. What would you do if eighty percent of Sedona disappeared tomorrow? Where would you get gas? Would there be anybody stocking the grocery stores?"
Historical epidemiologists estimate that in the decades following European contact, indigenous populations in some regions of North America declined by 80% to 95%. This collapse destabilized local political structures, disrupted agricultural production, and cleared the way for eventual Spanish settlement.
Official Responses and Historical Interpretations
The life and death of Esteban de Dorantes remain subjects of intense debate among historians, archaeologists, and modern indigenous communities.
The Mystery of Esteban’s Death
The exact circumstances surrounding Esteban’s death at the Zuni pueblo of Hawikuh in 1539 vary significantly depending on the source.
According to Every’s lecture, Esteban’s arrival at the pueblo was marked by a clash of cultures and expectations. Accompanied by a greyhound and indigenous servants carrying his plates, Esteban’s demanding presence offended the Zuni.
"The Zuni are offended," Every said. "Remember, all they’re seeing is brown people. That’s all they have ever known… And here’s the first non-native people, and they sent a Black ambassador. And so they drew straws. One man drew the short straw, and he had to be the one to shoot Esteban with his bow and arrow. Because if he’s a god, well, then they’re just mad at one person. If he’s not a god, then he’s going to die. Well, he died."
Conversely, academic historians offer alternative explanations. In his seminal work The Spanish Frontier in North America, historian David J. Weber notes that the Zuni defended their actions to later Spanish expeditions by citing diplomatic and social transgressions.
Weber writes that "the Zunis killed the Black man, they explained to [conquistador Francisco Vázquez de] Coronado, because of liberties he had taken with their women." Other historical assessments suggest the Zuni suspected Esteban of being a spy for an invading force, as he carried a ceremonial gourd rattle associated with rival tribes.
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│ THEORIES ON ESTEBAN'S DEATH │
└───────────────────┬────────────────────┘
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┌────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────┐
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[Zuni Divinity Test] [Diplomatic Missteps] [Espionage Suspicions]
Zuni drew straws to Allegations of "liberties" Zuni suspected Esteban
test if Esteban was taken with local women, was a scout/spy for an
a mortal or god. per David J. Weber. imminent hostile invasion.Modern Institutional Recognition
Today, federal and state cultural institutions are working to restore Esteban to his rightful place in American history. The Coronado National Memorial, managed by the National Park Service, acknowledges that the testimonies gathered from Esteban’s 1539 expedition directly fueled the Spanish empire’s push into the Southwest.
"Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza began dreaming of the expedition to find these fabled cities of ‘Tierra Nueva’ and desired experienced travelers to lead a reconnaissance expedition," states the Memorial’s historical register. Esteban’s scouting mission laid the groundwork for Coronado’s massive 1540 expedition, which forever altered the cultural and geopolitical landscape of the region.
Implications: Reframing Regional History and Community Engagement
The launch of Gary Every’s lecture series comes at a time of growing public interest in localized, inclusive history. By bringing these complex historical narratives to a senior living community, Every is bridging the gap between academic research and community storytelling.
The Value of Local History
For the residents of the Verde Valley, understanding the historical forces that shaped Arizona is vital to preserving its landscape. By examining the failures of early European explorers, the resilience of indigenous societies, and the contributions of figures like Esteban, modern residents gain a nuanced perspective on the ground they walk upon.
Every’s upcoming lecture on Friday, September 25, will directly connect these global historical trends to local geography. The presentation, scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at Sedona Winds, will explore:
- The rise and fall of Verde Valley ghost towns.
- The preservation of American Indian ruins and sacred spaces.
- The lesser-known historical corridors that shaped local settlement.
Through these free, public talks, Every hopes to foster a culture of preservation and curiosity. By understanding the complex, multicultural tapestry of Arizona’s past, community members are better equipped to protect and appreciate its cultural resources for generations to come.
Event Details
- What: Lecture on Verde Valley Ghost Towns, Indigenous Ruins, and Hidden History
- Presenter: Sedona Poet Laureate Gary Every
- When: Friday, September 25, at 11:00 a.m.
- Where: Sedona Winds Independent Living, Village of Oak Creek
- Cost: Free and open to the public
- Information & RSVP: Call 928-284-1021 (Ask for Norene)
