Western New Mexico University will host some Gila River Festival events. On Thursday, September 22nd, in WNMU’s Global Resource Center auditorium, at 6 pm, Leeanna Torres will give a lecture about the Gila as the place of her “guerencia”. This word is derived from two Spanish words. “Querer” means desire and the second part, “herencia” meaning inheritance or heritage. Panelists can then examine the peoples’ connection to the Gila River. At 7 pm, in the WNMU Gardens at Light Hall, Gili Yalo, an Ethiopian Israeli rock star will perform. Gili’s music has given traditional Ethiopian music a different connotation that represents his story and personal triumph.
Colores United is an organization that helps asylum seekers in the Deming area. Colores United is an organization centered on community development, providing programs that assist in building up businesses and providing necessities to Deming residents. This organization has also been working with around 250 immigrant asylum seekers from Cuba, Venezuela, and Brazil each week. Many churches, some located in Los Alamos, are coming together to raise donations to support Colores United. Donations collected are tax deductible. For more information about Colores United, visit colores united dot org.
The US Department of Interior changed the names of 13 New Mexico peaks, canyons, and other sites. The US Department of Interior voted to replace nearly 650 names used for geographic sites across the country. Words that may be considered racial have been removed from the names of these geographic landmarks. New Mexico had 13 geographic sites that were changed, some in southwest New Mexico. In the Gila National Forest, in Grant County, east of the West Fork of the Gila, Squaw Creek was renamed to Meason Creek and Squaw Creek Ridge was changed to Ridge Tank. In Catron County, Squaw Creek was renamed Tin Creek, north of Doagy Canyon. Off of the Blue River, the creek called Squaw Creek that flowed into the Blue was renamed to Bearpen Creek.
