{"id":410130,"date":"2017-08-20T12:28:17","date_gmt":"2017-08-20T18:28:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=410130"},"modified":"2017-08-20T12:28:17","modified_gmt":"2017-08-20T18:28:17","slug":"a-plan-for-racial-healing-and-transformation-in-santa-fe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2017\/08\/a-plan-for-racial-healing-and-transformation-in-santa-fe\/","title":{"rendered":"A plan for racial healing and transformation in Santa Fe"},"content":{"rendered":"

COMMENTARY:\u00a0<\/strong>Throughout Santa Fe\u2019s history of cultural conflict, we\u2019ve seen a lot of pain to go along with the beautiful diversity we have today. We\u2019ve seen Native people being oppressed and violently conquered. We\u2019ve seen Hispanic people marginalized and oppressed by a new Anglo-centric government. And we still to this day see inequality and poverty in those communities as a result of that historic oppression.<\/p>\n

\"Javier

Courtesy photo<\/p>

Javier Gonzales<\/p><\/div>\n

As we put it in our Council-adopted cultural roadmap,\u00a0Culture Connects Santa Fe,\u00a0<\/em>“Santa Feans live in a place where joy and pain co-exist, and yet, here beauty and creativity hold transformative power for the entire community.”<\/p>\n

In a few short weeks much of our community will gather for the\u00a0annual\u00a0Fiestas de Santa Fe,\u00a0<\/em>an event that reflects that sentiment well. It also reminds us that we have the\u00a0responsibility to learn\u00a0about \u2013 and learn from \u2013 the\u00a0complex\u00a0histories in our community, including that of the Fiestas and the Entrada itself.<\/p>\n

In doing so we can still show pride in our respective cultures and reflect on the positive contributions that have been made over time.<\/p>\n

As we move forward we must do everything possible to start highlighting history where Native\/Hispanic cultural traditions have contributed to the richness of our community and are part of our heritage.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t think any government can lead or solve this alone. These conversations are difficult and require all of us to participate. In doing so will we can heal and grow stronger.<\/p>\n

To that end,\u00a0I\u00a0will be moving forward to:<\/p>\n

– Continue leader-to-leader dialogue to seek the counsel of Pueblo leaders. Our Pueblo neighbors are sovereign governments with representatives whose voices must be heard.<\/p>\n

– Instruct the city manager to,\u00a0within 30 days, deliver to the public and the governing body either a report or a timeline for a report that includes:<\/p>\n