Apologies for cross-posting, but I hope all participants in the listserves
to which I am forwarding this message will take the time to read Natalia
Diaz's email below, and the file she attached (see
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32727110/OUR%20HERITAGE%20JOURNEYS.doc)
to describe the effort of Spain's Cifuentes municipality to integrate its
cultural heritage with the region's natural history and the universe. This
is truly a monumental effort that brings people together and promotes
understanding of one another and ourselves, on a level rarely seen in the
United States.

 

Many of us who are associated with not-for-profit heritage organizations in
the U.S., and many of us as individuals, assist with and participate in
educational efforts to interest people in the archaeology, history, and
cultures of our local areas or the larger surrounding regions. Our efforts
oftentimes, however, are limited to specific heritage sites or peoples, and
often are repetitive in that we offer visits to the same sites over and over
throughout the years. There's nothing wrong with that, considering that we
will always find people who have not seen the sites and are eager to visit
them; that we may be able to educate them about cultural heritage in the
process; and that we may nurture their interest in and appreciation for a
region's heritage and peoples. Natalia, her colleagues, the Municipality of
Cifuentes, and the larger group they have assembled are doing so much more
in an innovative way, much to be complimented.

 

 

al

Allen Dart, RPA, Executive Director (Volunteer)
Old Pueblo Archaeology Center
PO Box 40577
Tucson AZ 85717-0577 USA
            520-798-1201 office, 520-798-1966 fax
            Email: [log in to unmask]
            URL: www.oldpueblo.org

Disclosure: Old Pueblo Archaeology Center's Executive Director Allen Dart is
a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service cultural resources specialist
who volunteers his time to Old Pueblo. Views expressed in Old Pueblo
Archaeology Center communications do not necessarily represent views of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture or of the United States.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

  _____  

From: NMAC-L [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Natalia Diaz
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2014 3:12 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Heritage - An iniciative to generate awareness

 

[This is a NMAC-L posting, do not simply "Reply" to sender.] * * 

Friends,

I am sending you an account of a principal activity that we (a group of
friends) have put in action in the region where I live. The purposse of it
is to open the eyes to and sensitize locals and outsiders about our
beautiful and valuable patrimony. It's been operating for almost 4 years
now. It started with a few people attending, everybody could fit in a big
car. Now, there is an average of 50 joining each time, from villages around,
and big cities much further in distance. We are very happy with the results.

I know that in other places of Spain similar iniciatives are taking place.
Volunteers that feel committed with their local heritage and want to make it
known and appreciated by others. A small step that helps also to build up a
sense of preservation: we don't want to lose the many presents that history
and time have given us (allow me the double sense of the word). We announce
it through radio, local tvs, internet, brochures, posters... There are
little means, not much "central organization" -meaning official coordination
and support- in the sense that these are grass roots iniciatives, normally
with the support of the municipalities.

Using the image of a tree that is very common in our land, let's keep
believing that "big oaks from little seeds grow".

Un abrazo
Natalia