SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 31

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Nancy Rodriguez

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE STATE RECORDS CENTER TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO DOCUMENT CHIMAYO CHILE'S CULTURAL, TRADITIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL CONNECTION TO PRESENT WAYS OF LIVING IN CHIMAYO AND THE SURROUNDING NORTHERN NEW MEXICO COMMUNITY; REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO CONDUCT A SEED, SOIL AND INDUSTRY STUDY OF CHIMAYO CHILE AND WORK WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN PLANNING CHIMAYO CHILE'S LONG-TERM CULTURAL ASSET PRESERVATION AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT; RECOGNIZING CHIMAYO CHILE AS A LIVING HEIRLOOM OF NORTHERN NEW MEXICO HISPANIC CULTURAL, FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL TRADITIONS.

     WHEREAS, it is the desire of the New Mexico legislature that Chimayo chile as a New Mexico Hispanic cultural asset be preserved as a living tradition; and

     WHEREAS, to preserve the traditional and cultural value of chile as a symbol of a way of life and a living cultural asset of the great state of New Mexico, it is imperative that a written document be compiled, that historic records be maintained and that the story be made accessible to the citizens of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, it is right and proper for all people to know and understand the unique history of chile, the role it has played and the legendary status it has achieved in the formation of the state's food traditions; and

     WHEREAS, Chimayo chile followed a cultural, industrial, agricultural and political pathway from 1598 to 1821, when the Spanish flag flew over New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, between 1821 and 1846, when the Mexican flag flew over New Mexico, Chimayo chile acquired a legendary status on established trade routes due to its particular taste; and

     WHEREAS, Chimayo chile is still grown in the northern New Mexico mountain valley that the early Spaniards called La Canada and that is now known as Chimayo; and

     WHEREAS, for the first two hundred fifty years of northern New Mexico Hispanic history, Chimayo proudly maintained its food traditions, customs and culture, adapting and integrating chile traditions with native counterparts as an act of thanksgiving and faith; and

     WHEREAS, in 1846, New Mexico became a territory of the United States, achieving statehood in 1912; and

     WHEREAS, four hundred three years later, Chimayo chile still enjoys the legendary status begun by the industrious growers who developed the first chile trade routes to the north; and

     WHEREAS, Chimayo growers continue to proudly herald and celebrate the state's living food traditions, customs, culture and faith; and

     WHEREAS, the Hispanic children of New Mexico should understand that their roots are in the proud status of Chimayo chile and the land where it grows; and

     WHEREAS, Chimayo chile has achieved legendary status as a food heirloom in oral history; and

     WHEREAS, that status as an oral heirloom enables ongoing cultivators of Chimayo chile to take pride in the four-hundred-year development of their living food traditions along with the economic well-being it affords them; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's Hispanic history and food traditions are unique among all the states in the union; and

     WHEREAS, it is important to keep Chimayo's agricultural and cultural asset alive and well preserved through organized study and practicums;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Chimayo chile be recognized as a living heirloom of northern New Mexico Hispanic cultural, food and agricultural traditions that is worthy of preservation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state records center be requested to conduct a study to document Chimayo chile's cultural, traditional and industrial connection to present ways of living in Chimayo and the surrounding northern New Mexico community, and that a written report on the history of Chimayo chile be provided to the governor and the legislature by December 31, 2005; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico department of agriculture be requested to conduct a seed, soil and industry study of Chimayo chile; to work with the local community in planning Chimayo chile's long-term cultural asset preservation and industrial development; and to provide a written report of its recommendations for preserving Chimayo's chile seeds, soil composition, land, growers and industrial development to the governor and legislature by December 31, 2005; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico department of agriculture and the state records center.

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