The danzas “dances” of both Los Matachines and Los Comanchitos represent the complex and diverse cultures which are deeply rooted in the history of New Mexico. The Danzas de Los Matachines tells a story grounded in Colonial Spanish tradition that was adopted by the Indigenous pueblos and Hispanic villages of New Mexico. Tracing back to the Moors of the fifteenth century, Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortez utilized the Danza de Los Matachines as a way to introduce the teachings of Christianity to Indigenous people (Aztecas) in the New World. The Danza de Los Comanchitos is a traditional dance commemorating the experience of the Genízaro, a term applied to the mixed blood Spanish and Indigenous, and the Cautivo (Captives); Native Americans of both the Comanche and Apache tribes who were taken captive during raids between the rival tribes and/or Spanish conquests of Native territory. These captives “cautivos” were then traded for goods with the European settlers in populated regions in the New Mexico Territory.The authors of this abstract descend from the ancestors referenced within these songs and dances. As descendants of the traditional dance, Los Matachines, and participants in the reclamation dance, Los Comanchitos, the authors have deep connection and investment in the preservation of these rituals. They participate with a group of community members who share the same mission of restoring and passing down these meaningful traditions and to honor their heritage and culture. Through the use of narrative inquiry, the authors will focus on sharing the stories of three musicians that partake in these danzas, inclusive of the authors’ personal experiences as active participants. These narratives yield illuminating discussions around themes such as the oral tradition of music education in these spaces, ideas of reclaiming indigeneity, and pillars of decolonization theory.