| On October 16, 1999 communities from the head waters of the Río Grande in Colorado down to the Gulf of Mexico came together on both sides of the border for one purpose: to celebrate the richness and diversity of the Río Grande.
In the Taos area, in spite of a weather forecast that predicted gloom and doom, the 5th Annual Día del Río celebration hosted gorgeous fall weather and about 50 river lovers. Amigos Bravos sponsored the celebration on the banks of the Río Grande at the Lone Juniper Site in the Orilla Verde Recreation Area near Pilar.
Rocky Mountain Youth Corps started the day off with an early morning river cleanup and joined us after for the celebration and potluck.
Ceremonies were opened with words from former Amigos Bravos board member Richard Deertrack of Taos Pueblo. Richard reminded us of the times when he was small and they would come to the river. "They told us, Get down on your stomach and drink from the river.'" He added "Do you think I would tell my grandchildren to get down on their stomachs and drink from that river today? No. I wouldn't." He talked about the conflict this presents to his religion in which it is said that you should drink from rivers because they are the Earth's life blood. It is a spiritual act in itself, but you cannot do it today because it is not safe. He commended everyone for being present on behalf of the river and thanked Amigos Bravos for taking a leadership role on river issues.
Virginia Black, a local author, shared an essay which she wrote for the occasion. Virginia explored the juxtaposition between life inside four walls and its inherent frenzy and the life flowing next to the river.
Danza Azteca pervaded the atmosphere with anxious rattles and the sacred smoke of copal. Guillermo Rosete, the lead dancer, explained that the music being played for the day's dance was specifically for the Río Grande. After several mesmerizing dances on their own, the dancers distributed rattles, flutes and drums to the circle of spectators and then invited them into the circle to join the dance. In a serpentine, rattling line, the celebrants were led down to the water's edge to take the river's water in hand or otherwise offer blessings and take communion with our Río Grande.
A cottonwood tree to be planted later in the day, leaves turned yellow from the season, was brought into the circle and everyone had a chance to express themselves on behalf of the tree and the future of its habitat. Outreach Director, Pat McCabe, shared a song she learned from a rainforest tribe in the Amazon of Brazil at the recent Gathering of Indigenous Elders of the Americas. She sang on behalf of the tree and the river and the people gathered. It was a song from their prophesies which describes the day when all on earth will be restored to health once again, a song about the "Promised Land," as it was translated.
From the headwaters in Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico, the Río Grande carried blessings and prayers, joy and play, sorrows and regrets once again to nourish and cleanse the lives along its banks.
Many thanks go out to all who joined us for the day, including the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps for their service to the river, Fred Peralta at the Lilac Shoppe for donating the lovely cottonwood that was planted, Virginia Black for sharing her gift of words, the Río Grande/ Río Bravo Basin Coalition for their support, the BLM for its support and manpower, and Danza Azteca for their vibrant dance and blessings for us all. |
