Towa
One of three Kiowa-Tanoan languages spoken by the Pueblo people of New Mexico, it is also known as Jamez, after the only pueblo where it is still spoken. Though the three Kiowa-Tanoan languages spoken by the Pueblo people are closely related, speakers of one cannot fully understand speakers of another. In 1838, Jemez culture became diversified when the Towa speaking people from the Pueblo of Pecos resettled at the Pueblo of Jemez in order to escape the increasing depredations of the Spanish and Comanche cultures. The Pecos culture was rapidly integrated into Jemez Society, and in 1936, both cultural groups were legally merged into one by an Act of Congress. Today, the Pecos culture still survives at Jemez and its traditions have been preserved. Jamez traditional law forbids the language from being translated into writing in order to prevent exploitation by outside cultures. As about 90% of the tribal Jemez members speak the language, it is not considered to be extremely endangered.