Carrie Leven – Kiowa Trail

Posted on by Questa Stories

In this segment of the Voices de Aquí series, we hear about the Kiowa Trail from Carrie Leven, resident of Questa for over 25 years, acequia parsiante, and archaeologist for Carson National Forest Questa Ranger District.

Thank you Carrie Leven, for sharing your research on the Kiowa Trail. Your knowledge of the layered and complex cultural and material history and prehistory of this area is a gift and adds to our understanding and appreciation of the heritage of this place. Read Carrie’s essay on the Kiowa Trail at the Questa History Trail website HERE.

This segment is an edited excerpt from a longer Questa Stories interview with Carrie Leven from April 20, 2018. Listen to the full interview HERE.

This summer, we’re listening together to the voices of our neighbors; every week we share a different short story from our community with Voices de Aquí. Join us for the short broadcasts at Questa Farmers Market on Sundays or here, on our website.

Huge thanks to our collaborators at Questa Farmers Market, Gaea McGahee and all the musicians at the market for allowing us to plug into their sound system to broadcast the Voices de Aquí weekly segments.

We are also grateful to our funders! Voices de Aquí is made possible by support from the LANL Foundation Community Outreach Grant, Chevron Grants for Good and Taos Community Foundation IMPACT Grant.

Kate Montoya Cisneros – Canning Wild Meat

Posted on by Questa Stories

In this segment of in the Voices de Aquí series, Kate Montoya Cisneros shares memories of her mother’s love for and skill with cooking, baking and canning, “wild meat” canning in particular. Here she shares a story about this and poaching.

Thank you Kate Cisneros, for sharing these memories of your childhood, your mother and family; it is a gift to those listening now and in the future. Your memories add to our understanding and appreciation of the history and heritage of Cerro and Questa.

This segment is an edited excerpt from a longer Questa Stories interview with Kate on June 14, 2018. Listen to the full interview HERE.

This summer, we’re listening together to the voices of our neighbors; every week we share a different short story from our community with Voices de Aquí. Join us for the short broadcasts at Questa Farmers Market on Sundays or here, on our website.

Huge thanks to our collaborators at Questa Farmers Market, Gaea McGahee and all the musicians at the market for allowing us to plug into their sound system to broadcast the Voices de Aquí weekly segments.

We are also grateful to our funders! Voices de Aquí is made possible by support from the LANL Foundation Community Outreach Grant, Chevron Grants for Good and Taos Community Foundation IMPACT Grant.

Estevan Rael-Gálvez – Object Stories

Posted on by Questa Stories

In this segment of in the Voices de Aquí series, Dr. Estevan Rael-Gálvez introduces the idea of sharing objects, stories and photographs to create a community-based archive to strengthen community and culture. He shares two of his own stories of meaningful objects, a sewing machine oil can from his grandmother and a wool carder from grandfather.

These sharings took place on July 8, 2018 at the Memory Gathering Event facilitated by Dr. Estevan Rael-Gálvez, at the Questa VFW. This collaborative event was hosted as part of the development of the Questa History Trail (a project of the Questa Creative Council); Questa Stories team supported the event hosting and was on scene recording stories and scanning photographs; the event was also part of an early stage of the Manitos Community Memory Project.

Huge thanks to our collaborators at Questa Farmers Market, Gaea McGahee and all the musicians at the market for allowing us to plug into their sound system to broadcast the Voices de Aquí weekly segments.

We are also grateful to our funders! Voices de Aquí is made possible by support from the LANL Foundation Community Outreach Grant, Chevron Grants for Good and Taos Community Foundation IMPACT Grant.

Benita Rael – Grandfather’s Woven Rug

Posted on by Questa Stories

In this segment of in the Voices de Aquí series, Benita Rael shares her grandfather’s beautiful woven rug-blanket.

Benita shared this object story on July 8, 2018 at the Memory Gathering Event facilitated by Dr. Estevan Rael-Gálvez, at the Questa VFW. This collaborative event was hosted as part of the development of the Questa History Trail (a project of the Questa Creative Council); Questa Stories team supported the event hosting and was on scene recording stories and scanning photographs; the event was also part of an early stage of the Manitos Community Memory Project.

Huge thanks to our collaborators at Questa Farmers Market, Gaea McGahee and all the musicians at the market for allowing us to plug into their sound system to broadcast the Voices de Aquí weekly segments.

We are also grateful to our funders! Voices de Aquí is made possible by support from the LANL Foundation Community Outreach Grant, Chevron Grants for Good and Taos Community Foundation IMPACT Grant.

Bennie Gallegos on Chicos – Voices de Aquí

Posted on by Questa Stories

During the 2022 Questa Farmers Market season, we’re listening together to the voices of our neighbors. Every week we listen to a different short story from our community.

To kick off the “Voices de Aquí” series, we join Bennie Gallegos on his family farm in Questa, where he describes the cultivation of corn and processing of chicos.

Big thanks to our collaborators with Questa Farmers Market, Gaea McGahee and all the musicians at the market for allowing us to plug into their sound system to broadcast the Voices de Aquí weekly segments!

Gratitude to our funders! Voices de Aquí is supported by through LANL Foundation Community Outreach Grant, Chevron Grants for Good and Taos Community Foundation IMPACT Grant.

Esther Garcia, Questa Women’s Tea, 2019

Posted on by Questa Stories

Esther Garcia
1946-2020
Acequia Advocate, Former Mayor of Questa and more…
Questa Women’s Tea Co-Hostess

Recording Occassion: Questa Women’s Tea
Recording Location: Yoga Sala in Questa
Recorded: November 16, 2019

Esther Garcia passed away on January 5, 2020, a month and a half after co-hosting the Questa Women’s Tea in November, 2019. A powerful love for the people, history and traditions of Questa and the surrounding communities was a core conviction in her life. Esther celebrated and studied her roots, family and community history. She was a fierce advocate for land and water, acequia systems, culture and traditions. Her work and words have left a lasting mark on our hearts. Esther will be missed by many and we are grateful to have known and worked with her.

Police Warning

Father, Water, Land + Discussion

Questa History, Acequias, Cabresto Lake

Interview with Michael Rael Parts 1 & 2

Posted on by Questa Stories

Michael Rael was born in 1950 and raised in Questa , New Mexico. Mr. Rael is the Judge for the village of Questa. Michael started playing music at the age of 13 and has collaborated with a wide variety of Northern New Mexico Musicians. His love for the music shines every time he is on stage.

Interviewee Name: Michael Rael
Interview Date: April 12th, 2021
Interviewer: Chris Arellano
Interview Location: Michael’s office in Questa, New Mexico
Topic covered: Michael’s long history as a local and traveling musician

Listen to Part 1:

Listen to Part 2:

This interview is part of Northern New Mexico Music: Past and Present, a project of the nonprofit, Questa Creative Council, dedicated to strengthening community through arts, culture, history, and education. This project is supported in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts and Taos Community Foundation.

Interview with Bernie Torres Parts 1 & 2

Posted on by Questa Stories

Bernie Torres was born and raised in Amalia, New Mexico. In 1963, after his family moved to Costilla, he started his own tradition of Dando Los Dias a tradition that dated back hundreds of years. Bernie is married to Gladys Torres. Bernie, Gladys and their kids, Brian and Jeff, also participate in this annual event. Bernie is a very active member of his community in Costilla and owns a successful trucking company.

Interview Date:  April 11th, 2021
Interviewer: Chris Arellano
Interview Location: Bernie Torres’ home in Costilla, New Mexico
Topics covered: Bernie’s  long history with Los Dias, music, community, local traditions, Costilla, Amalia

Listen to Part 1:

Listen to Part 2:

This interview is part of Northern New Mexico Music: Past and Present, a project of the nonprofit, Questa Creative Council, dedicated to strengthening community through arts, culture, history, and education. This project is supported in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts and Taos Community Foundation.

Interview with Ernesto Marquez, Part 1, 2 & 3

Posted on by Questa Stories

Ernesto Marquez was raised in Des Montes / Arroyo Seco New Mexico. Ernie is part of  Padre Jesus de Nazareno Arroyo Seco La Morada de Nuestra Soledad. Ernie’s Grandfather, Gabriel Marquez Senior, was also part of the Arroyo Seco Morada de Nuestra Soledad. Ernie is also a member of Grupo Mezcal, an award winning and touring band based in Taos NM.  Grupo Mezcal was formed around 1983.

Interview Date: March 4th, 2021
Interviewer: Chris Arellano
Interview Location: Ernesto Marquez’s his home in Arroyo Seco, New Mexico

Interview Topics: Ernie’s history with La Morada Brotherhood and his history as a contemporary musician in New Mexico

Listen to Part 1 – La Morada:

Listen to Part 2 – La Morada:

Interviewee Name: Ernesto Marquez

Listen to Part 3 – Local Musician:

This interview is part of Northern New Mexico Music: Past and Present, a project of the nonprofit, Questa Creative Council, dedicated to strengthening community through arts, culture, history, and education. This project is supported in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts and Taos Community Foundation.

Interview with Joseph Marquez, Part 1 & 2

Posted on by Questa Stories

Joseph Marquez was born in Española New Mexico on October 30th, 1944. Joseph was married to Florence Marquez (deceased). His 3 daughters are Lori (deceased) Eliza, and Desiree. Joseph grew up in Costilla, NM.  He has been a member of the  Morada, La Cofradia de Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno, in Garcia, Colorado for 54 years. La Cofradia de Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno was established in 1599 in San Miguel, New Mexico (currently Española, New Mexico). Jospeh currently lives in Albuquerque, NM with his kids Eliza and Desiree Marquez.

Date of Interview: January, 13 2021
Interviewer: Chris Arellano (nephew), part of the 
Location of Interview: Joseph’s home in Albuquerque, NM
Topics and places covered in interview: Joseph’s history with La Morada Brotherhood, Los Penitentes, Alabados and the musical traditions

Listen to Part 1:

Listen to Part 2:

Joseph Marquez

This interview is part of Northern New Mexico Music: Past and Present, a project of the nonprofit, Questa Creative Council, dedicated to strengthening community through arts, culture, history, and education. This project is supported in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the National Endowment for the Arts and Taos Community Foundation.