In November of 2003, the El Paso International Airport assumed the balance of $780,000.00 to complete the project. The XII Travelers Memorial of the Southwest, a non-profit organization of volunteers, raised 1.3 million dollars from generous El Paso individuals, corporations and foundations, to include a major grant from the McKee Foundation. Cost of the monumentĪpproximately 2 million dollars. Installation was in September of 2006 and the international dedication took place on April 21, 2007. The monument arrived in El Paso for storage in an El Paso airport hanger on Apto await the completion of the base. In February of 2006, large flat bed trucks transported the cast sections to Eagle Bronze Foundry in Lander, Wyoming for final assembly. In 11 months (2003- 2004) approximately 300 molds were sent in 17 shipments to Shidoni, Foundry in Tesuque, New Mexico. The 36 foot monument was created for 6 years in a Mexico City Enlarging studio by the sculptors and a crew of 5 master craftsmen. These and other contributions by the Oñate exhibition mingled with the Native American culture created the rich Mestizaje that has become the hallmark of our region. In La Toma (Taking Possession), Oñate re-affirmed that Indian land and water rights were recognized and protected by the Crown. Despite the clash of cultures, Oñate formally recognized the Spanish Crown's recognition of Native American communities (especially the Pueblo Indians) as semi-autonomous within the colonial domain. Cristo Rey and UTEP, which he named El Paso del Rio del Norte – or The Pass of the River of the North. On May 4, 1598, Oñate and the 500 colonists in the expedition crossed the Rio Grande at the rocky ford near Mt. Reaching the Rio Grande (Rio Bravo) was cause for the great joy and thanksgiving. Thirst and hunger were ever present as they struggled north through the Chihuahuan desert. (The pilgrim's Plymouth Rock Thanksgiving took place in 1621.) The colonists had reason to celebrate after an arduous 700 mile journey, which began in the town of Santa Barbara, Chihuahua, Mexico in January, 1598. The first European colonists to celebrate a feast of Thanksgiving on North American soil took place just south of El Paso in the vicinity of San Elizario, Texas on April 30, 1598. Oñate founded the Camino Real (Royal Highway), which was a vital artery of communication, supplies and trade between southern Chihuahua, Mexico and Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was Basque with Jewish ancestry and his wife was the great-granddaughter of Montezuma and the granddaughter of Cortez. Oñate and his family had a culturally diverse background. This epic colonization expedition included Mestizos from Mexico as well as Mexican Indians and Africans to the American Southwest. The expedition consisted of dozens of families, 10 Franciscan missionaries, servants and 129 soldiers – a three mile long caravan that included thousands of livestock and more than 100 rumbling carts. Most dramatic historically among the livestock introduced on the Oñate expedition was the horse – war horses and mares -which became so culturally vital to Native Americans in subsequent years. Some of the contributions of these first Hispanic pioneers and subsequent expeditions to North America are the introduction of the Spanish language, Christianity, European musical instruments, farming and mining equipment, spices, cookware, fruit tree cuttings, seeds and domestic animals, that included cattle, pigs, and goats.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |