Summer 2001 Bulletin

Oral History Project Starts Up Again

This summer, the Amigos Bravos’ Oral History Project will focus on the Middle Rio Grande. Sarah Soliz, a PhD student in the Department of Anthropology at UNM, will conduct the interviews. Sarah was introduced to Amigos Bravos by new member, Keith Basso, Professor of Linguistics at UNM. Sarah is developing her dissertation project on language and nature in the Bosque of central NM. Sarah's explains, "I want to study the ways that people speak about nature in a particular place (ie, the Bosque) and draw from the literature on place, linguistic and environmental anthropology, and the history of social relations in New Mexico." Oral histories provide valuable insights that might otherwise be overlooked. Our experience is that, by collecting local knowledge through oral histories, critical topics and issues often surface leading to additional research and action. These topics and issues should not be overlooked and simply placed into archives for ‘future’ research. The Middle Rio Grande Oral History collection will strengthen and support the goals of the Amigos Bravos Albuquerque Business Plan including community outreach and networking, community learning, environmental justice, and a citizens monitoring project to mention a few. Sarah says she wants her work to acutally benefit people and communities. This summer's collection of oral histories is just the first step. Sarah will begin planning, research and identifying interviewees in June. She will conduct interviews in July, complete a summary of the oral history collection and then follow up in August. We welcome her abilities, ambition and contributions to the project. Sarah will be contacting individuals or families from Cochiti to Socorro, who are interested in sharing stories and experiences about the Río Grande and the Bosque. If you know someone we should interview for the oral history project, contact Sarah at cgomez@amigosbravos.org or 505-924-2223.

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