Speaker Biographies
Emcee
David F. García, MA, is from the community of El Guache, New Mexico. He is currently completing a PhD. Program in Anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin. As a researcher investigating local knowledge systems in northern New Mexico and practices, his interests include: acequias, foodways, religion, spirituality, folkloristics, and cultural space, as they relate to sustainability and cultural survival of Indo-Hispano communities. He is specifically interested in how shifts in economic bases relate to transformations in the relationships that people have to the environment and local resources. He is currently the Community Education Coordinator for the New Mexico Acequia Association. In addition to the above duties he is also a multi-talented musician and performer of local Spanish music as a solo artist and also a member of the statewide recognized Blue Ventures.
Keynote Speaker
Miguel Santistevan: With a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of New Mexico and a Master of Science degree in Ecology from the University of California, Davis, Miguel Santistevan is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Biology at the University of New Mexico. His research interests are in the traditional acequia-irrigated and dryland agricultural systems of the Upper Rio Grande and Sangre de Cristo mountains. Miguel is certified in Permaculture and ZERI Design and has been a High School science teacher in Pecos, Peñasco, and Taos school districts. He has directed youth-in-agriculture programs such as ePlaza of Hands Across Cultures and the Regional Development Corporation and the Sembrando Semillas youth-in-agriculture project of the New Mexico Acequia Association (NMAA). He has produced video and public radio programming (¡Que Vivan las Acequias!) with the NMAA and Cultural Energy, of which he is a Board Member. He maintains a conservation farm with his wife and daughter in Taos called Sol Feliz where many visitors have participated in educational presentations, tours, and hands-on workshops (www.solfelizfarm.org). Miguel coordinates a ‘Living Seed Library’ program through the Agriculture Implementation, Research, and Education non-profit corporation he is co-founding (www.growfarmers.org). Miguel has recently been elected Chairman of the Acequia Sur de Río de Don Fernando de Taos for the 2010-2011 growing season of which he is a parciante (irrigator) and past Mayordomo (ditch boss). He also serves as a Board Member for the Taos Valley Acequia Association. More information on Miguel can be found at www.unm.edu/~msanti.
Panel Speakers
Ralph Vigil II, is a 8th generation farmer from Pecos, NM, focusing on seed propagation and seed saving of heritage crops. Ralph owns Molino de La Isla Farm where he works with youth from his community, mentoring them on acequia culture, s eed saving, food processing, food justice issues and seed sovereignty. Ralph is also Chairman of the NM Acequia Commission.
Beata Tsosie-Peña, is from Santa Clara Pueblo and El Rito. She is a poet, certified in infant massage, education
and permaculture design. The realities of living next to a nuclear weapons complex has called her into environ-
mental health and justice work with the local non-profit organization, Tewa Women United. She believes in the
practice and preservation of land-based knowledge, spirituality, language, seeds, our Earth, and family. Her
intentions are for healing, wellness and sustainability for future generations.
Bianca Encinias, is the owner of El Chante: Casa de Cultura focusing on community controlled economic
development. El Chante is an art gallery and boutique promoting local and regional art, crafts, and culture.
She is also a member of the Los Jardines Institute, an intergenerational organization that promotes
learning and implementing environmental justice through agriculture and education.
Lorraine Kahneratokwas Gray, has a diverse background, beginning with a Masters in Project Management.
She has been working in the area of traditional agricultural revival for the last 12 years. She was honored to be a
member of the Native Delegation to Terra Madre 2006 and 2010, in Turin, Italy. Honored for her work in the
Mohawk community of Akwesasne, New York, Gray co-founded Kanenhi:io Ionkwaienthonhakie (We Are
Planting Good Seeds), which built a substantial community greenhouse, established a community farmers’
market on the reservation, and supports community gardens, and individual family farms. Gray is now living in
the South West, and is the Conference Coordinator for the Traditional Agriculture & Sustainable Living
Conference
Film Maker
Chris Dudley, is an award winning New Mexico documentary filmmaker who has worked under grants from PBS, P.O.V, Frontline World and KNME among others. His film Genetic Chile is currently screening around the world. His next film, Building John Henry, explores the rationality of the war machine and the rise of the burgeoning American police state. http://buildingjohnhenry.com/
http://buildingjohnhenry.com/
This is a fantastic event and a good start to healing the wounds within northern NM.
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