10.15.19 Continuando la Luche

What a full, educational, experiential, memory sharing #indigenouspeoplesday in El Paso and New Mexico with John Bretting, friend since my University of Houston political science days, and his wife Sylvia Roman. Beautiful soak in the hot springs along the Rio Grande in Truth or Consequences. Then, insightful new perspectives on borderland studies and the history of the Apache “peace camps” in the late 18th century in what is now the Duranguito area of El Paso, but was then part of New Spain, from Apache and Spanish viewpoints in an effort to decolonize methodology... presented in an intriguing mix of Apache, Spanish and English vocabulary
*New Mexico celebrated its first Indigenous People’s day
*The El Paso City Council declared yesterday Indigenous People’s Day
*how the Mescalero Apaches shared their ways of knowing, did not set up borders but this benevolence was systematically abused by leaders of New Spain and their artistic output exploited for colonial gain
* how the Apaches used the Spanish actions and policies for their own gain, to conduct their raids on Spanish horses, to gather intelligence about the Spaniards, to get food, to take advantage of the Spanish gifts, to heal the internal struggles between the various Apache bands. They viewed these early actions , not as capitulation, but as smart manipulation
*how the Apache “peace settlements” mirror in many ways our current border practices ... restriction of mobility , Apache women and children were captured and “deported” to Cuba as a bargaining tool for peace with the Apache leaders, exploitation of internal divisions, diminutive language for Apache people and leaders...
Continuando la luche