Voices of the Northern Rio Grande

Stories of family, history, love, adventures, misadventures as told by the people of our area.

Come enjoy stories of family, history, love, adventures, and misadventures as told by the people of our area. On the second Saturday of each month, 2-4 featured guests will be invited to share their stories at Questa Library.

Michael Rael hosts and curates this monthly gathering in collaboration with Voices of the Northern Rio Grande and Questa Library. Stories from these gatherings will become part of the digital community archive and be available to listen to via the library and online.

The Voces de Nuestro País story-sharing events are now also being shared as a monthly podcast! Find the “Voces de Nuestro País” podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon music.

    • Amalia
    • Arroyo Hondo
    • Arroyo Seco
    • Costilla
    • El Rito
    • La Lama
    • Questa
    • Red River
    • San Cristobal
    • Sunshine Valley

Voces de Nuestro País

Voices of Our Area

Esther Garcia, Questa Women’s Tea, 2019

Esther Garcia celebrated and studied her roots, family and community history. She was a fierce advocate for land and water, acequia systems, culture and traditions.
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Memories and Alabados: Hermano Joseph Marquez – Interview Excerpt

Joseph Marquez's history with Los Hermanos (Penitentes), Alabados and the Catholic musical traditions of the area.
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Interview with Bud Wilson Part 1

Bud Wilson was born in 1926 in the suburbs of Chicago, but forged his connection to the land and people of Northern NM when he was just 16, while accompanying his high school teacher on a research trip to San Cristobal.
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Interview with Michael Rael Parts 1 & 2

Michael Rael was born in 1950 and raised in Questa , New Mexico. Michael started playing music at the age of 13 and has collaborated with a wide variety of Northern New Mexico Musicians.
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Interview with Bernie Torres Parts 1 & 2

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.
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Interview with Ernesto Marquez, Part 1, 2 & 3

Ernie is part of  Padre Jesus de Nazareno Arroyo Seco La Morada de Nuestra Soledad and is also a member of Grupo Mezcal, an award winning band in Taos NM.
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Interview with Joseph Marquez, Part 1 & 2

Joseph Marquez was born in Española New Mexico on October 30th, 1944. 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.
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Flavio shares the letter requesting his Mother’s Hand in Marriage

In this recording and images Flavio Cisneros shares a Letter that was written in February, 1925, requesting the marriage of his mother, Corina Gonzales (later Cisneros) to Francisco Cisneros.
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Camphor Bottles from Lovedia Quintana Cisneros

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Celestina Arellano Martinez’s “At Home Shoes”

Celestina Arellano Martinez owned two pairs of shoes; these were her "At Home Shoes." They were shared by Jeannie Sanchez Masters on July 8, 2018.
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