New Mexico’s Center for Cultural Technology (CCT) is an educational, community engagement, and R&D partnership between the Department of Media Arts & Technology at New Mexico Highlands University and the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. CCT’s mission is to cultivate a homegrown talent pool of multimedia specialists capable of working with cultural content and committed to serving their communities.
Since 2005, CCT has placed over 200 cultural technology interns in museums, libraries, historic sites, and parks across New Mexico and the southwest, creating well over 300 projects in video/audio, exhibits, graphic design, mobile apps, web sites, and more. CCT’s main headquarters is in the Department of Media Arts & Technology, located in the McCaffrey Historic Trolley Building on the campus of New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM.
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Cafe y Atole
There are two published versions of El Trovo del Atole y el Café, one by José de Jesús López and one by an unknown or anonymous author. The one here is a third version and is unpublished. It was written by Elva Vigil Valdez of Capulin, Colorado. In it, while Atole defeats Coffee, Atole invokes the sentiment of reconciliation and also leaves open the possibility of continuing the dialogue in the future. The bilingual graphics in comic book format were created in 2020 by Natasha Vasquez, design intern from New Mexico Highlands University. She envisioned a conversation between a grandmother and her grandson, which morphs into a dialogue between coffee and atole. The recorded performance is by David Garcia and Thelma Argüello. According to information provided by folklorist Enrique Lamadrid for Folk Music of Hispanic New Mexico: The John Donald Robb Collection, traditionally trovos are musical duels in improvised verse between two trovadores (troubadors). Originating in the courts of medieval Spain and Portugal where topics centered on such lofty themes as theological arguments, trovos migrated to the Canary Islands and were popularized in the Americas throughout parts of Mexico, the Caribbean, and beyond, including New Mexico and Colorado. They were often performed for travelers along the Camino Real and the Old Spanish Trail to California. According to information provided by Estevan Rael-Galvez, trovos are often a form of political protest, addressing contemporary issues creatively. El Trovo del Atole y el Café is one of the most interesting from nineteenth-century New Mexico -– a battle of wits between a cup of coffee and a cup of atole, a traditional Mexican hot beverage made from masa. One interpretation proposed by Dr. Lamadrid could be What are the virtues of coffee versus atole? What is more valuable, oil or water? But according to Dr. Rael-Galvez it could also be interpreted as a critique of capitalism and colonial imposition, juxtaposing coffee as elite, foreign, and urban with atole as Indigenous, rural, and of the people. -
Manitos Personas Placemats
These downloadable placemats were designed by interns from the Manitos Community Memory Project under the direction of Dr. Estevan Rael-Galvez. They were produced in conjunction with a series of posters called Manitos Personas that honor tradition bearers and others who serve the community and help to hold it together. The original idea, inspired by a project of community scholar and activist Dr. Patricia Trujillo, was to distribute the placemats to local restaurants to educate and inform children about their Manito heritage. As the placemats were in production, however, COVID-19 hit, and restaurants closed. Schools were desperate for ways to keep their students engaged while learning from home. The placemats were printed and sent home through distributions at school sites along with food and other educational materials and supplies. We also discovered that adults enjoyed the activities on placemats and so there were a number of distributions at senior centers. -
Manitos Cuaderno Series
The year 2020 was defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which decimated families and communities in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado where many heirs to the unique Indo-Hispano culture often refer to themselves as Manitos. In response, the Manitos Community Memory Project (MCMP), with support from the American Recovery Act, National Endowment for the Humanities, initiated a series of publications to help Manitos address the trauma of the pandemic through connection to their history, cultural heritage, and to each other. The format of the publications pays homage to the cuadernos, small journals or notebooks, traditionally used by Manitos to record all kinds of information. The Manitos Community Memory Project (MCMP) was initiated in January 2019 with funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation through a grant to the Center for Cultural Technology, a partnership between the Department of Media Arts and Technology at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, working in collaboration with the New Mexico Humanities Council and a network of Manito community partners and academic researchers. The shared vision is to protect and preserve the region's at-risk cultural heritage by creating a network of memory gathering sites located in rural libraries, schools, and non-profit organizations, and by building a sustainable digital archive by and for Manitos. The original focus of the MCMP was on healing from historical trauma, passed down from generation to generation, and recovery from the legacy of colonialism. The COVID-19 pandemic expanded the focus to address a new trauma. The Manitos Cuaderno Series was one of a number of MCMP internship projects designed to demonstrate the value of a community-directed digital cultural heritage repository. Initially envisioned as a series of downloadable digital publications, it was Ellen Dornan, former director of digital initiatives at the New Mexico Humanities Council, who had the vision that they should be printed and distributed free of charge and found the funding to make it happen. In January 2021 the printed sets of Volume I made their debut. In 2023 Volume II was published.
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Cafe y Atole, spanish
El Trovo del Atole y el Café/The Trovo of Atole and Café. There are two published versions of El Trovo del Atole y el Café, one by José de Jesús López and one by an unknown or anonymous author. The one here is a third version and is unpublished. It was written by Elva Vigil Valdez of Capulin, Colorado. In it, while Atole defeats Coffee, Atole invokes the sentiment of reconciliation and also leaves open the possibility of continuing the dialogue in the future. The bilingual graphics in comic book format were created in 2020 by Natasha Vasquez, design intern from New Mexico Highlands University. She envisioned a conversation between a grandmother and her grandson, which morphs into a dialogue between coffee and atole. The recorded performance is by David Garcia and Thelma Argüello. According to information provided by folklorist Enrique Lamadrid for Folk Music of Hispanic New Mexico: The John Donald Robb Collection, traditionally trovos are musical duels in improvised verse between two trovadores (troubadors). Originating in the courts of medieval Spain and Portugal where topics centered on such lofty themes as theological arguments, trovos migrated to the Canary Islands and were popularized in the Americas throughout parts of Mexico, the Caribbean, and beyond, including New Mexico and Colorado. They were often performed for travelers along the Camino Real and the Old Spanish Trail to California. According to information provided by Estevan Rael-Galvez, trovos are often a form of political protest, addressing contemporary issues creatively. El Trovo del Atole y el Café is one of the most interesting from nineteenth-century New Mexico -– a battle of wits between a cup of coffee and a cup of atole, a traditional Mexican hot beverage made from masa. One interpretation proposed by Dr. Lamadrid could be What are the virtues of coffee versus atole? What is more valuable, oil or water? But according to Dr. Rael-Galvez it could also be interpreted as a critique of capitalism and colonial imposition, juxtaposing coffee as elite, foreign, and urban with atole as Indigenous, rural, and of the people. -
Cafe y Atole, english
El Trovo del Atole y el Café/The Trovo of Atole and Café. There are two published versions of El Trovo del Atole y el Café, one by José de Jesús López and one by an unknown or anonymous author. The one here is a third version and is unpublished. It was written by Elva Vigil Valdez of Capulin, Colorado. In it, while Atole defeats Coffee, Atole invokes the sentiment of reconciliation and also leaves open the possibility of continuing the dialogue in the future. The bilingual graphics in comic book format were created in 2020 by Natasha Vasquez, design intern from New Mexico Highlands University. She envisioned a conversation between a grandmother and her grandson, which morphs into a dialogue between coffee and atole. The recorded performance is by David Garcia and Thelma Argüello. According to information provided by folklorist Enrique Lamadrid for Folk Music of Hispanic New Mexico: The John Donald Robb Collection, traditionally trovos are musical duels in improvised verse between two trovadores (troubadors). Originating in the courts of medieval Spain and Portugal where topics centered on such lofty themes as theological arguments, trovos migrated to the Canary Islands and were popularized in the Americas throughout parts of Mexico, the Caribbean, and beyond, including New Mexico and Colorado. They were often performed for travelers along the Camino Real and the Old Spanish Trail to California. According to information provided by Estevan Rael-Galvez, trovos are often a form of political protest, addressing contemporary issues creatively. El Trovo del Atole y el Café is one of the most interesting from nineteenth-century New Mexico -– a battle of wits between a cup of coffee and a cup of atole, a traditional Mexican hot beverage made from masa. One interpretation proposed by Dr. Lamadrid could be What are the virtues of coffee versus atole? What is more valuable, oil or water? But according to Dr. Rael-Galvez it could also be interpreted as a critique of capitalism and colonial imposition, juxtaposing coffee as elite, foreign, and urban with atole as Indigenous, rural, and of the people. -
Manitos Placemats - Periodista
By publishing news, poetry, fiction, letters, recipes, and essays, the periodistas, or Spanish language journalists, created a print culture that celebrated Manito cultural heritage and helped to form their unique Indo-Hispano cultural identity. This began right around the time that New Mexico was becoming a US territory in 1848 amid a major influx of Anglo settlers who distained the native culture. For more than a century the Spanish language press was a rallying point of the resistance to forced assimilation. Before public education was instituted in the region many children were taught to read by their parents using Spanish language periodicals. This downloadable placemat is one of a series created by the Manitos Community Memory Project in conjunction with a series of posters entitled Manitos Personas. The posters and placemats honor community members serving in traditional roles who help preserve cultural heritage and promote community cohesion. The original idea for the placemats was to distribute them to local restaurants to help educate and inform children about their Manito heritage. When COVID-19 struck, restaurants closed and students began learning from home. The placemats were delivered to school sites where they were sent home with distributions of food and other educational materials and supplies. It turned out that adults also enjoyed the activities, so distributions were also made at several senior centers. The idea for the placemats was inspired by Dr. Patricia Trujillo. They were produced by Project Director, Dr. Estevan Rael-Galvez and two graphic design interns from the Department of Media Arts & Technology Cultural Technology Program, Lily Padilla and Natasha Vasquez. -
Manitos Placemats - Maestro
This downloadable placemat honoring maestros--teachers--is one of a series created by the Manitos Community Memory Project in conjunction with a series of posters entitled Manitos Personas. The posters and placemats honor community members serving in traditional roles who help preserve cultural heritage and promote community cohesion. The original idea for the placemats was to distribute them to local restaurants to help educate and inform children about their Manito heritage. When COVID-19 struck, restaurants closed and students began learning from home. The placemats were delivered to school sites where they were sent home with distributions of food and other educational materials and supplies. It turned out that adults also enjoyed the activities, so distributions were also made at several senior centers. The idea for the placemats was inspired by Dr. Patricia Trujillo. They were produced by Project Director, Dr. Estevan Rael-Galvez and two graphic design interns from the Department of Media Arts & Technology Cultural Technology Program, Lily Padilla and Natasha Vasquez. -
Manitos Placemats - Curandera
This downloadable placemat honoring curanderas--traditional healers--is one of a series created by the Manitos Community Memory Project in conjunction with a series of posters entitled Manitos Personas. The posters and placemats honor community members serving in traditional roles who help preserve cultural heritage and promote community cohesion. The original idea for the placemats was to distribute them to local restaurants to help educate and inform children about their Manito heritage. When COVID-19 struck, restaurants closed and students began learning from home. The placemats were delivered to school sites where they were sent home with distributions of food and other educational materials and supplies. It turned out that adults also enjoyed the activities, so distributions were also made at several senior centers. The idea for the placemats was inspired by Dr. Patricia Trujillo. They were produced by Project Director, Dr. Estevan Rael-Galvez and two graphic design interns from the Department of Media Arts & Technology Cultural Technology Program, Lily Padilla and Natasha Vasquez. -
Manitos Placemats - Mayordoma
This downloadable placemat honors the mayordomo, or in this case the mayordoma, in Indo-Hispano communities the person who manages the acequia irrigation system on behalf of a village or valley. This placemat is one of a series created by the Manitos Community Memory Project in conjunction with a series of posters entitled Manitos Personas. The posters and placemats honor community members serving in traditional roles who help preserve cultural heritage and promote community cohesion. The original idea for the placemats was to distribute them to local restaurants to help educate and inform children about their Manito heritage. When COVID-19 struck, restaurants closed and students began learning from home. The placemats were delivered to school sites where they were sent home with distributions of food and other educational materials and supplies. It turned out that adults also enjoyed the activities, so distributions were also made at several senior centers. The idea for the placemats was inspired by Dr. Patricia Trujillo. They were produced by Project Director, Dr. Estevan Rael-Galvez and two graphic design interns from the Department of Media Arts & Technology Cultural Technology Program, Lily Padilla and Natasha Vasquez. -
Manitos Placemats - Abuelos
This downloadable placemat honors the abuelos, grandparents. It is one of a series created by the Manitos Community Memory Project in conjunction with a series of posters entitled Manitos Personas. The posters and placemats honor community members serving in traditional roles who help preserve cultural heritage and promote community cohesion. The original idea for the placemats was to distribute them to local restaurants to help educate and inform children about their Manito heritage. When COVID-19 struck, restaurants closed and students began learning from home. The placemats were delivered to school sites where they were sent home with distributions of food and other educational materials and supplies. It turned out that adults also enjoyed the activities, so distributions were also made at several senior centers. The idea for the placemats was inspired by Dr. Patricia Trujillo. They were produced by Project Director, Dr. Estevan Rael-Galvez and two graphic design interns from the Department of Media Arts & Technology Cultural Technology Program, Lily Padilla and Natasha Vasquez. -
Manitos Placemats - Storyteller II
This downloadable placemat honors storytellers. It is one of a series created by the Manitos Community Memory Project in conjunction with a series of posters entitled Manitos Personas. The posters and placemats honor community members serving in traditional roles who help preserve cultural heritage and promote community cohesion. The original idea for the placemats was to distribute them to local restaurants to help educate and inform children about their Manito heritage. When COVID-19 struck, restaurants closed and students began learning from home. The placemats were delivered to school sites where they were sent home with distributions of food and other educational materials and supplies. It turned out that adults also enjoyed the activities, so distributions were also made at several senior centers. The idea for the placemats was inspired by Dr. Patricia Trujillo. They were produced by Project Director, Dr. Estevan Rael-Galvez and two graphic design interns from the Department of Media Arts & Technology Cultural Technology Program, Lily Padilla and Natasha Vasquez. -
Manitos Placemats - Storyteller
This downloadable placemat honors the storytellers. It is one of a series created by the Manitos Community Memory Project in conjunction with a series of posters entitled Manitos Personas. The posters and placemats honor community members serving in traditional roles who help preserve cultural heritage and promote community cohesion. The original idea for the placemats was to distribute them to local restaurants to help educate and inform children about their Manito heritage. When COVID-19 struck, restaurants closed and students began learning from home. The placemats were delivered to school sites where they were sent home with distributions of food and other educational materials and supplies. It turned out that adults also enjoyed the activities, so distributions were also made at several senior centers. The idea for the placemats was inspired by Dr. Patricia Trujillo. They were produced by Project Director, Dr. Estevan Rael-Galvez and two graphic design interns from the Department of Media Arts & Technology Cultural Technology Program, Lily Padilla and Natasha Vasquez. -
Following in the Footsteps of Juan B. Rael
The rural villages of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado represent some of the oldest land-based communities in the United States. They form a cohesive regional culture connected by shared family lineages, traditions, histories, and a distinctive dialect of Spanish. Juan B. Rael (1900 – 1993), a linguist and folklorist from the village of Arroyo Hondo, was one of the first scholars to document the storytelling tradition of the region. He traveled to twenty-three villages during the 1930s and 1940s, collecting more than 500 stories from ninety-seven storytellers from all walks of life. The collection was published in two volumes, in 1977, by the Museum of New Mexico Press as Cuentos Españoles de Colorado y Nuevo Mexico: Spanish Folk Tales of Colorado and New Mexico. This exhibition contains a representative sample of ten of these stories, each deeply reflective of its time and place. In New Mexico, Rael visited Cuyamungué, Española, Abiquiú, Taos, Arroyo Seco, Arroyo Hondo, Questa, Cerro, Costilla, Los Pinos and Santa Fe. In Colorado he visited Antonito, San Pablo, Garcia, San Luis, Los Sauces, Fort Garland, Alamosa, Capulin, Del Norte, Manassa, Mogote, and Conejos. Ten stories and storytellers were selected including The Priest’s Little Cow, Felix Pino, Santa Fe, NM, The Rat, Tomás Barela, Taos, NM, The Ant, Eva Martinez, Conejos, CO, Manito Rabbit and Coyote, Cleofas Jaramillo, Santa Fe, NM, Pedro de Urdemales, Simon Gallegos, Antonito, CO, The Grandson and Grandfather, Felix Esquivel, San Pablo, CO, The Indian Youth, Remigio Martinez, Conejos, CO, The Magician, Concepcion Rodriguez, Taos, NM, The Milk Giving Tree, Refugio Valdés (Costilla/Garcia), The Spider, Ant and Grasshopper, Candelaria Valdez, Taos, NM. Students from the New Mexico Highlands University’s Department of Media Arts and Technology produced this multimedia exhibition on behalf of the Manitos Community Memory Project, a collaborative initiative funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The goal of the project is to create a digital community archive of the cultural heritage of the region. In bringing to light the research of Juan B. Rael and the stories he collected, it is our hope to inspire the next generation of storytellers. -
Blank Cuaderno
The year 2020 was defined by the COVID-19 global pandemic, which decimated many families and communities in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado where heirs to the unique Indo-Hispano cultural heritage of the region often refer to themselves as Manitos. In response, the Manito Community Memory Project (MCMP), with support from the American Recovery Act, National Endowment for the Humanities, initiated a series of publications to help Manitos address the trauma of the pandemic through connection to their history, cultural heritage, and to each other. The blank booklet was designed by MCMP interns to evoke the leatherbound cuadernos, small notebooks or journals, that have been used historically by Manitos to record all types of information. It invites Manitos to continue the tradition by recording their own reflections and stories of the COVID-19 pandemic in words and images. -
Cuadernos volume II issue 4 - Invierno: Humo y Hielo (Smoke and Ice)
Volume Two of the Manitos Community Memory Project Cuaderno Series, a set of four booklets on the theme of food sovereignty, features the land-based Indo-Hispano culture of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado where natives often refer to themselves as Manitos--their shared history and culture, how they connect through traditional foodways, and how the changing seasons and weather give shape and meaning to the activities of daily life. Each issue focuses on one of the four seasons starting with Spring. Winter, the final issue focuses on the cold months as a time for storytelling and of course Christmas with its many traditional practices and hearty winter dishes.