[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 15, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10380-S10381]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, 1998 is a very special year for 
celebrating Hispanic roots in New Mexico. This year we are 
commemorating the 400th anniversary of the first permanent Settlement 
in the Southwest, which took place in the Espanola Valley near San Juan 
Pueblo of New Mexico in 1598.
  Dozens of meaningful and beautiful events have already been held in 
honor of this anniversary. I participated in a particularly stirring 
event at the San Gabriel Chapel in Espanola last spring. The Spanish 
Mayor of Espanola, Richard Lucero, organized a very special event with 
Governor Earl Salazar of San Juan Pueblo and Governor Walter Dasheno of 
Santa Clara Pueblo to unveil the design for a commemorative stamp 
featuring the San Gabriel Chapel and the ``Spanish Settlement of the 
Southwest--1598.'' This is 22 years before the Pilgrims landed at 
Plymouth Rock.
  The Governors and the Mayor exchanged stories about the importance of 
their respective cultures to each other. All those present were moved 
by the stories of lasting friendships formed on baseball fields, and 
marriages between Indians and Hispanics. There were also strong 
expressions of Hispanic and Indian intent to keep forging their futures 
together, along with the Anglo culture. I wish those meaningful stories 
and moments could have been enjoyed first hand by more New Mexicans.
  In July, I was back in Espanola for annual fiesta and the official 
first sale of the United States commemorative stamp. This starkly 
beautiful stamp has done more than I first imagined to bring a new 
unity to the historic Espanola Valley. Both the Spanish and Indian 
cultures in this valley have openly expressed and celebrated the 
positive aspects of bringing two distinct cultures together.
  The Quarto Centenario, or 400th Anniversary, is a most vital and 
memorable commemorative year for New Mexicans and for our nation. New 
Mexico's newspapers are reporting many of the historical details of the 
early Spanish colonization of the Southwest. Educators and museums are 
providing many opportunities to revisit our state history through 
music, dance, and lectures.
  The Archdiocese of Santa Fe has recently published ``Four Hundred 
Years of Faith.'' This fascinating review of the critical role of the 
Catholic Church in shaping the culture of New Mexico is well told and 
beautifully illustrated, including photographs of all the Catholic 
Churches in New Mexico.
  Don Juan de Onate, the original Spanish colonizer, was accompanied by 
the Sons of St. Francis who walked into northern New Mexico with Onate 
in 1598. As described in the book from the Archdiocese, ``What resulted 
from the first struggles was nothing less than the birth of New Mexico 
culture and Catholicism that can truly be called indigenous to this 
land. The reconciliation between the Spanish and Indian people produced 
a faith capable of adapting to different circumstances, as well as 
being inclusive of the many different peoples already present and those 
that would follow.''
  ``The eminent Pueblo scholar Professor Joe Sando has written of these 
positive accomplishments. He notes that the Pueblo Indians have fared 
much better under the Spanish than the Indians on the East Coast of the 
United States. There are no Indian markets in Boston or New York. Their 
Indian culture was pretty well destroyed. In New Mexico, Indian culture 
still flourishes.''
  Spain has also been an active participant in the Quarto Centenario. 
The Vice President of Spain, Francisco Alvarez-Cascos, and the Spanish 
Ambassador to the United States, Antonio de Oyarzabal, and their 
delegation visited key Spanish historic sites in New Mexico last 
spring.
  This Spanish delegation traveled to Espanola and San Juan Pueblo, 
where Onate's original expedition established the first Spanish 
settlement in the Southwest. A powerful reconciliation meeting was held 
with New Mexico Pueblo Indian leaders at San Juan Pueblo.
  At this historic meeting, Indian leaders stressed the beneficial 
aspects of Spanish settlement, like art, agriculture, trading, 
government, and the

[[Page S10381]]

introduction of Catholicism. The Indian proclamation, however, also 
stated that the period of settlement ``brought great suffering and 
pain'' for both the Pueblo people and the colonizers.
  This day of reconciliation in late April focused on forging stronger 
ties between Spain and the Indian pueblos, with the promise of 
educational, economic development and cultural opportunities.
  As a follow-up to the promises of this historic reconciliation, 
hundreds of New Mexicans, are planning to go to Spain in November on a 
trade and cultural exchange mission.
  The Spanish Vice President Alvarez-Cascos summarized the day in his 
remark that, ``We are the sons of our past history, but we are also the 
fathers of our future.'' He said the two peoples ``want to know each 
other better to build a new friendship.''
  A sacred buffalo dance was performed by Pueblo dancers with men 
wearing authentic buffalo headdresses. Hundreds of New Mexicans 
attended this outdoor event on the San Juan Pueblo Plaza in spite of 
the blustery weather. The spirit of unity and harmony was apparent to 
all who attended.
  Thus the original site where Onate met the Ohkay Owingeh Indians, 
Place of the Strong People, and renamed their home San Juan de los 
Caballeros (hence, the San Juan Indians), was also the sight of a 
powerful reconciliation meeting 400 years after Onate proclaimed it the 
capitol of the Kingdom of New Mexico.
  The Spanish delegation also visited the site of the future Hispanic 
Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As planned, this will be 
our nation's largest Hispanic cultural center.
  To build this national and international cultural center, local 
public and private contributions have been raised, exceeding $20 
million. These funds will build an art gallery, museum, restaurant, 
ballroom, ampitheater, and literary arts center.
  Federal money of about $18 million will be used to match these local 
contributions and to build the planned Hispanic Performing Arts Center. 
Altogether, approximately $40 million will be invested in this new 
cultural and educational attraction featuring the many aspects of 
Hispanic culture, history, and arts.
  We New Mexicans are looking forward to this new showcase for Hispanic 
art, dance, music, food, and history. I feel a new pride among 
Hispanics of New Mexico as they prepare to offer this new treasure for 
the enjoyment of visitors from all over America and the world.
  In master calendars of New Mexico events for the Cuarto Centenario, 
over 180 events are listed. These range in purpose from lectures and 
reenactments to cultural performances, and parades. Prominent New 
Mexico women in the arts, politics, and education will be featured in 
``Nuestra Mujeras'' (Our Women). The ``Dia de La Raza'' (Day of 
Hispanics) will be a major event in October with events at the 
University of New Mexico, the new Albuquerque Civic Plaza, and the 
Albuquerque Museum. When moving events like these are attended and 
remembered, New Mexico and America will have a better sense of pride in 
its Spanish roots.
  As our nation celebrates and acknowledges Hispanic Heritage Month in 
1998, I wish to commend the thousands of New Mexicans who have worked 
so hard to bring their Spanish heritage to the forefront during the 
Cuarto Centenario--the 400th anniversary of the first permanent Spanish 
settlement in the Southwest. Americans can be grateful for these fine 
moments of remembrance, reconciliation, and cultural gems for creating 
a stronger future.

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