how did chama new mexico get its name?

Question

When Spainards named the "Chama" river in state of new mexico in usa, what did it mean. Its' historical context?

Answer 1

To the best of my knowledge the name "Chama" is a shortened version of the Tewa term [ts?m?' ??w?keyi], meaning "wrestling pueblo-ruin. The territory originally was the summer hunting ground of the Navajo, Ute and Apache Indians. In the 1600s the Spanish began to explore and settle the New Mexico territory. But unlike most of New Mexico, Chama was not settled by the Spanish. The Indian tribes, disinclined to relinquish their fertile land, held off the Spanish settlers here and it was another 200 years before Chama was born.

So basically the Spaniards did not name Chama the American Indians did. Hope that helps.