Colorado Voices: Conejos and Costilla Counties

[@deborahquintana4590]

I have never had the pleasure of hearing anyone articulate how I personally relate to my roots, how I defined myself, and who I am as a Colorado native as is described by Ronald Rael in this filming. To be from Southern Colorado and close to Northern New Mexico is almost like coming from a different country. We speak English and some of us speak more than one dialect of Spanish. We aren’t Mexican enough, nor American enough, nor Latin American, yet we have Native American DNA, European and other mixes. It is wonderful to see that some of the traditions continue by people that are going back to our roots and the basics. To live on the land would have been enriching but I chose other avenues of opportunity. I’m very proud of who I am and of my strong Colorado roots.

[@dfcortes67]

Such a beautiful region with such rich history.

[@ChileRoast]

Awesome!!! Thanks Ms. Sleeveless!!!

[@rockymtnpbs]

Thank you for watching

[@patrickvanhoesen9425]

I live here now and I love it with all my heart and soul. Definitely a special place. Coming from someone who's ancestors were wiped out, i truly love the fact this community has kept with it roots for hundreds of years. It's hard to go anywhere here and not see glimpses of 200 years ago.

[@rockymtnpbs]

Really well said!

[@mountainbound1315]

Beautiful land - beautiful people. 👍🏼

[@rockymtnpbs]

Absolutely.

[@joannedeherrera340]

I love my county in Conjeos. This land is sacred.

[@clvrswine]

EVERYTHING is suddenly sacred. Enough with that.

[@joannedeherrera340]

@@clvrswine Okay, sorry to offend you. Why is everyone so sinistive these days? This is America, and last time I checked; we still have the freedom of speech. Just as you can say what you want: and I am not offended. I personally have not heard of something being sacred for a while. To me it's a nice word to describe this land.

[@patrickvanhoesen9425]

I'm a transplant to conejos county and I owe land in costilla county. This land is definitely sacred! It's also very special. Either you see and feel it, or you don't and won't. If you don't see and feel it, you never will. It's a beautiful area in a beautiful valley in a beautiful state. I love it here

[@rockymtnpbs]

Thanks for sharing!

[@joannedeherrera340]

@@rockymtnpbs Your welcome. 💛

[@johnconstantinopoulos7446]

Que vivan los colorados!!!!!

[@clane1700]

Proud to be Native New Mexican. Most of us have a beautiful mixture of several cultures and would not exist without each of them.

[@GardenGangster85]

I don’t live far, and I appreciate this documentation, I have deep respect and compassion for what happened in these sacred places, ❤🙏

[@newmanbailey]

Wonderful to to see and hear this my heart goes out to these people I left not far from where they are but it's a different world and I live in New Mexico I would love to get to know this man that was shot and recovered

[@joedavis4150]

... Expanding, it is interesting that it is almost certain that the American Indians had raw Buffalo hide waterslides. How beautiful and wonderful this is!

[@lindatatianahovland8191]

My mother was adopted in 1967 in Denver and she didn’t know her roots until recently she started doing genetic genealogy. Her mothers family is from this area and it’s crazy because she was always so drawn to the southern part of the state she moved near Durango. We still don’t know much about her mother… but maybe somebody out there on the internet knows about some history there. A lot of the indigenous history isn’t documented… I know she has Zuni Pueblo blood and some people from the lujan Maestas line maybe. Lots of third and fourth cousins in Denver but her closest blood relatives were adopted or don’t know much about there bloodline either. Orphanages in the 60’s told mothers to put fake names on birth certificates… so I’m very suspicious of the names associated with her birth certificate. If you know anything about the Lujans from conejos please reach out!

[@joedavis4150]

... Viva la s u b s t a n t i v e!... all the wisest people of all times, have said two things : simplify, and look to Nature.... gracias

[@26dannyman]

all kinds of people are in this area. native american asian white hispanic black. We are one!

[@justcurious5618]

Carter County missing Roan Mountain (man) was found in July........

why do so many (well some) remain? - cities drew so many away