[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 93 (Monday, June 16, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3683-S3684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REMEMBERING EPIFANIA ``EPPIE'' ARCHULETA

 Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I wish to honor the 
lifetime contributions of Dr. Epifania ``Eppie'' Archuleta to the 
cultural heritage of the San Luis Valley of Colorado and Northern New 
Mexico. An internationally recognized weaver of the Rio Grande, Navajo, 
and Chimayo weaving traditions, Dr. Archuleta passed away on April 11 
at age 92.
  Born in Santa Cruz, NM, in 1922 to Agueda and Eusebio Martinez, Dr. 
Archuleta came from a long line of Northern New Mexico weavers. In 
1940, she married Francisco Archuleta and moved north to the small town 
of Capulin in Colorado's San Luis Valley, where she and Francisco 
farmed, ranched and raised eight children.
  After the age of 60, Dr. Archuleta was able to focus on her weaving 
full time. Her passion for her craft extended to teaching the art of 
wool spinning, dying, and weaving to family, friends, community 
members, and eager students from distant States. She held classes in 
the small San Luis Valley

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towns of Capulin, Alamosa, and Center, at the San Luis Valley Area 
Vocational School, and 5 hours away in Denver. Through the years, she 
taught hundreds of eager students. Many of her students went on to 
establish their own weaving classes and schools throughout the 
Southwestern United States.
  By passing on the weaving tradition, Eppie empowered people--
especially women--through teaching a valuable trade they could practice 
at home and remain with their children while making a decent living. 
When she was nearly 70, she opened a wool mill in Capulin, employing 
local citizens who could work close to home. Unfortunately, when her 
husband passed, Eppie closed the mill.
  In 1985, Dr. Archuleta received the National Heritage Fellowship 
Award from the National Endowment for the Arts. She was the first 
Hispanic woman to receive this prestigious national award. A year 
later, she spent a 2-week residency at the Smithsonian Institute 
Festival of American Folklife in Washington DC, during which four 
generations participated: Eppie, her mother Agueda Martinez, her 
daughter Norma Medina and her granddaughter Delores Archuleta. In 1991, 
she was featured in National Geographic Magazine, and in 1995, was 
awarded an honorary doctorate in art from Adams State University. Her 
weavings are on permanent display at the Smithsonian Institute.
  A devout Catholic, Eppie donated pieces to churches including a 
weaving of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to the church in Medanales, NM, 
and a woven cape depicting Mt. Blanca to the statue of the Virgin 
Conquistadora in Santa Fe, NM.
  Eppie's passing leaves a great loss to all who knew her. Whether 
picking up a lone traveler walking along the highway and taking them 
home, providing shelter, meals, and money in exchange for domestic 
chores and errands, volunteering at local fairs, festivals, and 
classrooms, or starting a wool mill or weaving school to employ a 
community, Eppie gave of her time and resources to assist many. She 
will not be replaced.

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