Armijo, Susie (Albuquerque, NM), part 1
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Document Type
Audio
Publication Date
2-8-1984
Recommended Citation
Atrisco Oral History Project (MSS 565), Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections, University Libraries, University of New Mexico.
COinS
Comments
La historia de la Merced de Atrisco established in 1901, managers of the Merced [land grant] and the dispute with the city that planned to expropriate lands of the Merced. She said the original name of the Merced was 'Ranchos de Atrisco' and the first families that used to live in Atrisco were Los Herrera, Los Chavez, Los García, y Los Candelaria. Los Gonzales y Los Bacas who lived on Five Points close to Bridge. Some lands that belonged to her grandfather were lost due to not paying taxes. She said that she had inherited land in this Merced five times. She advocates for keeping the Merced and better managing it for the younger generation and their education. She says that she will defend the land rights of the Atrisco families before the city council. The effect of the conversion of the town of Atrisco to Westland Corporation, the proxies and their misleading practices to persuade elderly people in Atrisco to sign papers that ended up with the loss of their shares of the Merced. She says that she is going to run for council manager to bring new commissioners committed to protecting the people's land rights. In the past, people used to help each other and share their products or farm animals. For childbirth, women used to help each other, the first doctor in the Ranchos de Atrisco was Dr. Page. Foods they used to prepare: las morcillas. Ways people used to buy lands. The changes in Atrisco: lands have been sold to outsiders and the original elders ended up impoverished in nursing homes. Memories of her childhood and youth growing in Atrisco, location of Atrisco and the placita de Atrisco. La escuelita en Armijo that was established in 1901. Agricultural practices based on natural and organic methods of taking care of the soil and the plants. Her father was a 'borreguero' [sheep herder]. Her grandfather used to have a large herd of sheep. As people were not literate in the past, the history of the community was passed orally by the elders to the younger people in community meetings. They used to share their experiences and knowledge, so they would continue their community ways. Memories of her father's slaughtering sheep and cutting wood and other family stories.