Acequia's dream expands by Juan Estevan Arellano Posted: Saturday, June 05, 2010  Three years ago, it was but a dream, but today it has become a reality that has gained international attention. That dream is the annual Celebrando las Acequias: Past, Present and Future, to be celebrated for the third time the weekend of June 11-13 at the Mission Embudo in Dixon, formerly La Plaza del Embudo, which dates back to 1725. For more than 20 years, I have been fascinated by the acequias that spread like spider webs from every tributary of the Río Grande — especially in the Río Arriba region that spreads from La Bajada south of Santa Fe to the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado. A few years back, I started thinking that of all the unsung heroes, there were probably none as unrecognized than the people who take care of the water in the acequias and those who use it — the mayordomo and the farmer. With that in mind, I started talking to people in and around the Embudo Valley and from other parts of the state, suggesting that we should honor the mayordomos and farmers for their contributions to retaining the water resources at the local level and also for growing our food. At that time I was a member of the concilio of the New Mexico Acequia Association and I had mentioned it to its director and at board meetings. After honoring a mayordomo and a farmer in 2008, NMAA picked up the idea and started honoring them at the state level the same year at its annual meeting in December. But the dream is not complete; there is still a component missing, and that is getting artists involved to create a sculpture that can be sited along acequias close to the highways. By having a sculpture visible from the road, it would remind all the travelers, whether local or tourists, of the importance of the mayordomo in the life of the villages and of the importance of water. This year, the Arid Lands Institute from Woodbury University in Burbank, Calif., born as a result of work done here and in other parts of the Southwest under the guidance of Professors Hadley and Peter Arnold from the School of Architecture, are footing most of the cost for the event. They received a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of University Partnerships, which is paying for the speakers and other activities. There are also several co-sponsors, including two local wineries and the Embudo Public Library, as well as NMAA and the Acequia Institute and others. Among the speakers will be Gary Nabhan, Ph.D., internationally known writer and local-food advocate from the Southwest Center at the University of Arizona. Opening the event on Friday will be Jack Loeffler from the Lore of the Land organization, followed by the award-winning film Genetic Chile, by Chris Dudley. Speaking on acequias on Saturday will be Estevan López, director of the Interstate Stream Commission; Sylvia Rodríguez; and Arnie Valdéz. There will also be a panel on food policy in the afternoon. An exhibition, "Ojo del Embudo," by Geraldine Forbes, incoming dean of The University of New Mexico School of Architecture, and Professor Tim Castillo, will highlight their work in two acequias in the area. For the first time, acequia advocates from Spain and Argentina will be participating, as they are sending printed materials that will be exhibited. Of course, there will be the annual recognition of mayordomos and farmers to go along with the music of Cipriano Vigil, Chuy Martínez and local musicians Los Coyotes del Cañoncito. And the dream continues of eventually having a sculpture installed of a mayordomo along the road by one of the acequias. A woman from Santa Fe donated some money three years ago, following the first event, to start a fund to make this idea a reality. Much more is needed, along with an artist with a vision. The public is encouraged to attend the free event. For a schedule and other information, call 505-579-4027. Juan Estevan Arellano is a researcher, journalist and the editor and project organizer for the publication of Ancient Agriculture: Roots and Application of Sustainable Farming. He lives and farms in Embudo.