Frank (Uncle Frank) is my uncle on my fathers side and the second youngest of my father's siblings. As a lifelong (56 years) resident of Ledoux, he speaks on the importance of family gatherings, working the land, and offers advice for young people looking to return to the area. 

Click the following link to view Frank's interview:
​https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rH2kmtMXGetERQTtpiQ6mPUkieVxt8Bq/view?usp=sharing

Michael (Dad) is my father and lifelong resident of Ledoux, NM. He is 49 years old and speaks of his stories growing up in the area and the importance of familial gatherings. He currently serves as a district court judge in New Mexico's fourth judicial district and speaks of the importance of politics and civic duty to the family.

Click the following link to view Michael's interview:
​https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rdsV3c37gPamuq-3KROOC7n1m6Dbb0jM/view?usp=sharing

Lorraine (Grandma Rain) is my maternal grandmother and a lifelong resident of Chimayo, NM. She is 65 years old and offers her take on the history of the area, as well as the importance of religion, and the arts in Norteño culture.

Click the following link to view Lorraine's interview:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o0bZMsu0wToZhROf1GULzT-QeaBhtric/view?usp=sharing

Ruby (Grandma Ruby) is my paternal grandmother and a lifelong resident of Mora and Ledoux. She is 75 years old and offers a unique perspective into the history of the area, raising a family, and the importance of respect in Norteño culture. 

Click the following link to view Ruby's interview:​https://drive.google.com/file/d/1unCmVOSGKiMwO99dfSam8Yyr6pAA3bKE/view?usp=sharing

Monica (Mom) is my mother and daughter of Maria Lorraine Vigil. She is originally from Chimayo, NM and has lived the majority of her life in Ledoux. She is currently 47 years old and practices as a clinical pharmacist in Las Vegas, NM. Listen in to her story of living in small towns across New Mexico and how her cultural background influenced her career as a pharmacist. 

Please click the following link to view Monica's interview: ​
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13CeXbioeP0TlyVeGJCRuwslPBOJ9pQS0/view?usp=sharing​

Abigail (Aunt Abby) is my aunt on my father's side and a lifelong resident of Ledoux, NM. She is 60 years old and the only daughter of Leonardo and Ruby Aragón. She currently serves as district court judge in the 4th judicial district of New Mexico. Listen in to hear her perspectives of growing up the area, family, and returning to Ledoux.

Click the following link to view Abigail's interview: ​https://drive.google.com/file/d/11mXirIRxrdqOZALBc5L64dOuA4wfin5x/view?usp=sharing

​The last focus of this project is to identify and analyze values that Norteños hold near to them. I want to explore these through the interviews and see what common themes arise. I will do so by asking each interviewee to tell a story that they believe is representative of our culture. These will likely showcase the aforementioned natural and familial world. Lastly, I want to explicitly ask what they believe the next generation of Northern New Mexicans must do to preserve our culture. I hope to gain insight into our belief systems and save these as a guide to do so. 

​I grew up with a very close-knit family with my two parents, brother, and sister, as well as first cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. We all grew up within two miles of each other and would regularly gather to spend time together. Grandma and Grandpa’s house was the social hub. Here, the cousins and I would play and explore our surroundings during the summers and after school. When play was over, my grandma would cook for the entire family and we’d share stories, laughter, and food. It was here where I learned what it was like to be an Aragón. Where we value our family above all, uplift one another, and practice our  traditions. 

​I come from a small town in Northern New Mexico in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range, called Mora. My family has been here for hundreds of years and has lived, worked, and loved these lands during that time. I am of Hispano and Native ancestry dating back to Spanish conquistadores and Native Puebloans. My body and my being are tied to this place as so many others are.  
               As I reflect on my home, I can’t help but think of the crisp, clean, mountain air that fills my lungs in the early morning. A warm sun peaking over the mountains to the east, bringing energy to the trees, the grass, the flowers, the birds, the animals, and to my soul. The horizon glows with hues of pink, orange, red, and purple…changing ever so slightly as the sun inches higher into the sky. The morning is calm but the vibrations of earth mirror those within me. I can sense her rhythm and feel a closeness to my surroundings and to my ancestors. I am not an individual in this world, but rather a small part of something bigger within this natural realm. My neighbors are miles away and the inherent beauty of this space has been preserved and untouched by man. It’s a stunning and wild place to exist.
People here are hearty and resilient as there are not common luxuries to rely on and enjoy. We pride ourselves on survival within the elements and nature. Wood fireplaces warm our homes in the winter when snow keeps us inside and many people hunt elk and deer in the area to provide meat for their families. This is not out of necessity but provides a competitive alternative to a Walmart 45 minutes away. Children are taught the value of hard work and self-reliance early on and oftentimes help on family ranchos (ranches) feeding animals, bucking hay, and other outside chores. One of which, is cleaning the acequia (irrigation ditch). This is a central part of life in this area as the acequia delivers water to irrigate our campos (fields), which we used for centuries to grow our crops and feed our livestock. Life in Mora can be hard, and it can be isolating due to the lack of human interactions that take place. This is why the family unit is so important to the survival and culture of my people.