September 2012
THE MAKING OF A NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA
Sep 3rd
Thomas Romero
“Through history those men are heroes whose deeds have been given proper recognition by the historian’s pen. Others, whose lives are unrecorded, so far as posterity is concerned, did nothing, for of these our annals are silent and we know them not.
“No greater misfortune could possibly befall a people than to lack a historian properly to set down their annals; one who with faithful zeal will guard, treasure and perpetuate all those human events which if left to the frail memory of man and to the mercy of the passing years will be sacrificed upon the altars of More >
Developing Partnerships for the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area
Sep 3rd
Katherine Mortimer
When I first heard about the Northern Río Grande National Heritage Area (NRGNHA), I wondered what the heck it was. I’d never heard of such a designation. I’ve come to understand it as a way for the federal government to recognize and give resources to local people within an area that has a unique cultural heritage in order to preserve those resources and share them with others. Unlike a national park or even a national monument, it is less about the land itself and more about how people have lived in an area. Most Heritage Areas celebrate historic cultures that no longer exist. The More >
Interviews with NRGNHA Board Members
Sep 3rd
Willow Powers
The creation in 2006 of a National Heritage Area out of Taos, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties, began through the activities and energies of a group of people, encouraged and supported by Sens. Domenici and Bingaman. The organization’s board includes two of the founders, Mary Trujillo Mascareñas and Samuel Delgado.
The following excerpted interviews with several board members and an early supporter, illustrate their passionate interest in and dreams for sustaining the rich cultures of the area as a whole. That passion has infused the NRGNHA from its earliest beginnings and continues through the contributions and advice of the More >
¡Sostenga!—The Northern Río Grande National Heritage Area
Sep 3rd
Camilla Bustamante
Established by Congress, National Heritage Areas are intended to be a grassroots and community-driven approach to heritage conservation and economic development, according to the National Parks Service website. The NPS is the federal entity that has oversight of the establishment of these areas. The NPS website further states that NHAs are not national park units. Rather, NPS partners with, provides technical assistance, and distributes matching federal funds from Congress to NHA entities. The Northern Río Grande National Heritage Area (NRGNHA) is one such entity that benefits from this legislation in the interest of supporting More >
2012 NRGNHA Grant Recipients
Sep 3rd
1. Española Valley High School—Cultural Heritage Videos
This project encourages students to develop their knowledge of their Hispanic and Native American cultures and to share this with their community, the region and the nation via a series of videos produced by the school’s TV production class. Each video features youth who are actively involved in some aspect of the cultures of northern NM. The projects are planned with a mentor who is an expert in the aspect of culture they are filming. The students edit their projects with an instructor to gain skills in state-of-the-art digital video editing. This project has More >
Decentralization and Coherence
Sep 3rd
Jack Loeffler
The bioregion of the northern Río Grande watershed has been recognized by the U.S. Congress as part of the Northern Río Grande National Heritage Area (NRGNHA), thereby providing potential to nurture both the people of this area and the habitat itself. Geopolitically, the area is contained within Taos, Santa Fe and Río Arriba counties of northern New Mexico. The western reaches of Río Arriba County extend over the Continental Divide into the San Juan River watershed and include the Jicarilla Apache Reservation.
The meld of human ethnicities that culturally define this region is profound. The late cultural anthropologist, Edward More >
Heritage Crops Still Grown After Centuries of Sustaining the People
Sep 2nd
Juan Estévan Arellano
The land covered by the Northern Río Grande National Heritage Area (NRGNHA)—Río Arriba, Taos and Santa Fe—can be said to be the heart and soul of New Mexico. Not only are there numerous indigenous communities—several Pueblos and the Jicarilla Apache—this is where the oldest Hispano settlements are also located.
It’s here also where the oldest heritage crops are still grown, and not only chile and corn. Much of what you find today in supermarkets and farmers’ markets has called NM home for centuries.
It’s a good thing the settlers under Juan de Oñate kept a very good inventory of the More >
Cultural Enterprises
Sep 2nd
Ganados del Valle (Herds of the Valley), located in Los Ojos, was established in 1983 as a nonprofit economic development corporation. Ganados’ mission is to demonstrate how the Hispano and Native American cultures of northern NM and southern Colorado can decrease poverty and protect ancestral lands and waters by creating programs and enterprises that add value to cultural, agricultural and natural resources in an environmentally sustainable way.
In 2010 Ganados was entrusted with stewardship of 200 acres of conservation easement. Ganado initially leased 140 acres as hay fields while deciding how best to sustainably use its resources while protecting the adjacent More >
Pinto Bean Museum – Edgewood, NM
Sep 2nd
Pinto beans have long been a key part of the agricultural economy in central New Mexcio. The Route 66 town of Moriarty, which calls itself the Pinto Bean Capital of the World, hosts a Pinto Bean Fiesta each year. In nearby Edgewood, Wildlife West Nature Park has completed construction of a Pinto Bean Museum. The museum, which is adjacent to a 1900s pinto bean barn, gives visitors an opportunity to experience the rich history of pinto bean farming in the area.
The Pinto Bean Museum displays antique bean processing equipment, farming artifacts and local historic photos. There are trade etchings More >
Book Reviews – September 2012
Sep 2nd
Española
By Camilla Trujillo
Images of America Series – Arcadia Publishing
ISBN: 9780738579672
After retiring from 25 years as artist-in-residence at northern New Mexico schools, Camilla Trujillo, in the interest of preserving the memory of the old Española (pre-Walmart), spent a year interviewing families, collecting historical photos and writing a series of essays. The result is a 128-page photographic journal of the Española Valley. Most of the photos have never been published before.
“Española, historically,” Trujillo says, “had been a complex community of about 20 villages, three Indian pueblos and a small city.” The scope of her book ranges from “El Encuentro,” the first meeting between the More >
The Cumbres Toltec Scenic Railroad
Sep 2nd
The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, built in 1880, is based in the villages of Chama, NM and Antonito, CO. Narrow gauge track was selected for easier maneuvering of track through mountain passes. The railroad was initially used for mining, livestock and some passenger service. It was abandoned by Denver & Rio Grande Western in the 1960s when trucking became the preferred mode of shipping. Dedicated volunteers and the States of Colorado and New Mexico rescued the Cumbres Toltec. Those states currently co-own it. Heritage Rail Management took over management in 2012. Fundraising, historical preservation and capital project are done More >
Land Water People Time—A Documentary Film
Sep 2nd
Land Water People Time is a 54-minute documentary film that explores the themes of cultural loss and preservation in northern New Mexico. Created from over 45 interviews with Pueblo, Apache, Hispanic and Anglo people throughout Rio Arriba, Taos and Santa Fe counties, the film is an educational journey across 10,000 square miles that encompass the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area.
The faces and voices of the people here reflect a vivid past. The interviewees are descendants of generations whose histories involve tribal, international and civil wars, droughts and intercultural raiding. And while diverging perspectives are presented, LWPT also shows that in some More >
Rivers Run Through Us
Sep 2nd
Bobbe Besold, Valerie Martinez and Dominique Mazeaud
“Who is better equipped than artists—thinking outside the box—employing their creativity and resourcefulness and a love of beauty—to envision a more sustainable world?” (curator Patricia Watts)
In 2007, American Rivers designated the Santa Fe River as the most endangered in the United States.
For five consecutive days in May 2012, we walked the length of the Santa Fe River, from the upper watershed to the confluence at the Río Grande. This 54-mile pilgrimage (embarked upon with the permission of the city of Santa Fe, private landowners and two Pueblos) was a celebration of the river, involving a wide More >
Newsbites
Sep 2nd
Gila River Festival – September 13-16
The 8th annual Gila River Festival – in and around Silver City, New Mexico – will celebrate the natural and cultural heritage of the Gila River, NM’s last free-flowing river. Attendees will have opportunities to enjoy expert-guided field trips in the Gila National Forest and along the Gila River, a keynote talk and writing workshop by master storyteller/author Craig Childs, horseback riding, kayaking, visual and performing art exhibits and performances, a film fest, downtown art walk and more.
“The Wild River Speaks!” is the theme of the festival. It’s all about stories that connect people to place More >
What’s Going On? – Albuquerque
Sep 2nd
Starting in September Weekend Permaculture Design Course
3.5 months of practical learning leading to permaculture certificate. Full range of sustainable learning practices. Focus on sustainable living in drylands. Info: 505.455.0514, www.permaculture.org
Through Feb. 2013
100 Years of State & Federal Policy: Its Impact on Pueblo Nations
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th St. NW
Exhibition reflects on the human experience behind enacted policies and laws, adding to a well-documented history of Pueblo resilience since the time of Emergence. Indianpueblo.org/100years
Sept. 5, 11:30 amUSGBC-NM Annual Chapter Luncheon
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th St. NW
Green building-related presentations. $18-$35. 505.247.0474, chair@usgbcnm.org, http://usgbcnm.wildapricot.org/
Sept. 6, 11 am
Sealing for Air Leakage Demo
3804 Manchester More >
What’s Going On? – Santa Fe
Sep 2nd
Sept. 6-7
Essentials for Healthy Homes
SF Community College
Training course. Info: http://greenbuilding.greentraining.sfcc.edu, Greentraining@sfcc.edu, 505.428.1445
Sept. 8-9, 4-7 pm
Dancing Earth Workshop
SF Art Institute
Community Engagement workshop integrating movement and related arts to address themes of water from personal, local and community perspectives. $20. Lecture/reception 9/10, 6 pm $10/$5. http://sfaiblog.org/2012/07/20/rulan-tangen/
Sept. 6-9
Burning of Zozobra and Santa Fe Fiesta
Plaza and various venues
505.988.7575
Sept. 9, 11 am
A Conversation with Jay Coghlan
Collected Works Bookstore
Coghlan is director of Nuclear Watch NM. Sponsored by Journey Santa Fe. Info: www.JourneySantaFe.com
Sept. 11, 10 am-2:30 pm
Finding Blessings and Beauty in a Broken World
Workshop with Robert Francis “Mudman” Johnson for people wishing to make a difference in More >
What’s Going On? – Here & There
Sep 2nd
Sept. 7
Free Recycling Training
GreenWorks, 125 N. Main St., Las Cruces
Learn ways your business can save money, increase profit and recycle. A presentation by English Bird, Executive Dir. of the NM Recycling Coalition and Chris Campbell, Pollution Prevention Specialist. RSVP by 9/5 to carrie@nmgreenchamber.com
Sept. 8-9
Pilar Studio Tour
Village of Pilar, Hwy. 68 & State Rd. 570
Artisan Faire & Market. Artists open their studios in the picturesque village along the Rio Grande.
Sept. 9, 9 am-12:30 pm
Horno Cooking Class with Norma Naranjo
Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo
Hand-on class by owner of The Feasting Place. $80 includes lunch. Presented by Slow Food® Santa Fe. http://hornocookingwithnormanaranjo.eventbrite.com/
Sept. 9, 1-4 pm
Organic More >
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