Keeping Northern N.M. heritage alive

Food? Religion? Language? Which aspects of Northern New Mexico heritage would you like to see celebrated and preserved? An entity created to manage up to $1 million per year of federal money over the next 10 years is seeking public input on how that money should be spent.

[Milton Deemer]

At least over here in Las Vegas all aspects of Hispanic heritage seem to be strong except for folk art and writing. There are a few excellent artists and writers but too few. A program that de-emphasizes the business end and focuses on personal expression would be beneficial.

[DFortuna]

How about good ol Northern NM "Politics"? Gotta love that heritage... Too bad there isn't an effort to rid the place of these dirt bags.

[Caballero]

Start at the source and move outwards in a time line. That would mean you start in the Espanola area by San Juan!

[elritonm]

Why have we not had a meeting in Taos or Espanola?

It seem that your organization is purposefully staying away!!!

What does Northern New Mexico Hertiage have to say?

[Doinky]

Cultural heritage. Surely that is more than just Hispanic cultures?

People keep saying,'oh our families have been here for 400 years'.

What about the Native population you forcibly displaced?

[Facundo R Tobias]

It has to start somewhere in Northern New Mexico, doesn't it? Again, politics have nothing to do with this project like this DFortuna mentions in the postings. If anything positive that should come out from this project is bridging and learning more about what is actually here in the northern part of NM. I am sure there is alot of good history that we all can enmesh, engulf and spread ourselves into. I hope this blogging does not turn out into a racial issue like white and brown verses whatever

[Albert Cata]

Althought, this morning was unable to read the entirety of this article due to time constrains I would nevertheless would like to include my 2 cents. Those of us that call Northern NM our beloved home are acquainted with the rich heritage we have here and proudly belong to. I am a traditional storyteller of 40 years and have appeared at many functions throughout this glorious state. I feel that storytelling is an intrigul part of our heritage although intangible. To keep our stories alive and vibrant for our children and future generations to come we must never underestimate the importance of what storytelling's value is to our Northern NM society. This is my plea.

[James]

DFortuna wrote:

How about good ol Northern NM "Politics"? Gotta love that heritage... Too bad there isn't an effort to rid the place of these dirt bags.

Can we have a conversation about something without hate. You people need to get a grip.Didnt think there was that much biggotry anymore but you guys are sure showing it in these blogs.You gonna startch your white hoods now?

[James]

Doinky wrote:

Cultural heritage. Surely that is more than just Hispanic cultures?
People keep saying,'oh our families have been here for 400 years'.
What about the Native population you forcibly displaced?

You mean us as in Spainards? Same thing happened at Plymoth rock under the guise of "Thanksgiving". Yea our ancestors conquered when they came here but dont overlook what the pilgrims did over there. No poison blankets or slavery here..

[Excited to see]

Doinky wrote:

Cultural heritage. Surely that is more than just Hispanic cultures?
People keep saying,'oh our families have been here for 400 years'.
What about the Native population you forcibly displaced?

They are doing great, no need for money. They love their casinos, they love their cheap beer, they love their fast food, they love to beat each other up, they love not to go to school...they are great!!!!

[Do not spend the money]

I am confused, what's there to preserve?

[Mr Somewhere]

Facundo R Tobias wrote:

What is actually here in the northern part of NM.

1. HATE
2. VIOLENCE
3. DRUGS
4. ALCOHOL
5. LACK OF EDUCATION
6. DIABETES
Yeah, good luck on getting somewhere...

[ted]

Up here in the area around Taos a big part of our history revolves around the acequias. Spend some money to fix the main gates on the acequias. This would save water, preserve argiculture, and maintain the production of the land, la tierra. Que no?

[Jimmy]

Do not spend the money wrote:

I am confused, what's there to preserve?

You must be easily confused. Read the article.

[Cynic]

James wrote:

<quoted text>
You mean us as in Spainards? Same thing happened at Plymoth rock under the guise of "Thanksgiving". Yea our ancestors conquered when they came here but dont overlook what the pilgrims did over there. No poison blankets or slavery here..

It really sounds like you could stand to study history more closely. The last line you posted made me die a little inside, as someone who is a lifelong native of Santa Fe, and actually chose to pay attention when studying both NM and US history.

In fact, you have your geography scrambled. The Spanish did, in fact, subjugate, enslave, and infect the native population in NM and beyond. The Spanish did not co-exist peacefully with any native population. Remember, the initial foray into New Mexico resulted in a massacre at Zuni!

In contrast, the colonists at plymouth, as celebrated by thanksgiving each year, were initially resistant to interaction with the native population, but eventually accepted their help in adapting to life in America. It was only later that relationship soured, due to the massive influx of european settlers. This isn't a quaint retrospective, but history.

What are your real motivations here, because historical accuracy isn't one of them.

[paula garcia]

Cynic,“Before the Pilgrims arrived Plymouth had been the site of a Pawtuxet village which was wiped out by a plague (introduced by English explorers looking to grab a piece of the New World land) five years before the Pilgrims landed These Native peoples had met Europeans before the Pilgrims arrived. One such European was Captain Thomas Hunt, who started trading with the Native people in 1614. He captured 20 Pawtuxcts and seven Naugassets, selling them as slaves in Spain.”
http://americanindiansource.com/mourningday.h...
All Europeans were horrible to the Native American population. I wonder if the Pawtuxcts and Naugassets tribes are still around? I would hope we could learn from our history and move on. I don’t get the point of our post? I don't think James post was saying that the spanish were nice to the native American population. Just that all europeans were horrible not just the Spanish.

[Joe]

"$1 million per year over the next 10 years of federal money..." That's a lot of money; where does this guy "federal" get all that money?

[Centurion]

I like New Mexico, the people and culture reminds me of other mountain redoubts, such as, West Virginia and the rest of Appalachia, Scottish Highlands, the Pyrenees, the Himalaya, the Caucasus, and the Andes.

A little bit backwards, inbred, with good food, strong on religion, and suspicious of outsiders with their 'modern' beliefs, money, and religions.

[Just me]

Sadly the true Northern New Mexico Hispanic culture has been mostly replaced by inner-city ghetto culture. Booming cars, fatherless children, unkempt properties, substance abuse, thug-style clothing...

One aspect of traditional New Mexico I'd like to see restored / remembered is the original architectural styles - the variety, the quality, the character. It's sad that so many builders mistakenly think that the New Mexico 'style' is merely dirt-colored boxes with flat roofs.:(

For ten million dollars, how many stucco boxes could we demolish???

[BOT]

I still can't figure out what's there to preserve. If you want true Northern New Mexican culture, try Truchas. No need to waste your money.