BILL DUNMIRE @THE WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM, FRIDAY--- AUGUST 23rd, 2013---7:00pm A speaking/film event will begin at 7:00 p.m. for the public at the Museum’s theater room. All presentations are free to the Master Gardeners and the public. More than three years of intense academic research went into this book and is the first book ever published on the history of livestock in New Mexico . The program will present some background on the several species of domestic livestock and then describe how Puebloans and Navajos slowly adopted horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, cattle, pigs and chickens after their arrival with the Spanish colonist in 1598. It will cover the spread of livestock during the colonial times, how quickly the Plains Indians learned to steal and ride horses, and how horses became central to their economy. The talk will describe how sheep became New Mexico ’s most important economic animal, growing to a population of five million animals in the province by then end of the nineteenth century. It will cover the arrival of cattlemen from Texas on the eastern plains, the rising economic importance of cattle in our state, how speculators and politicians became involved in that industry, and how cattle on our eastern plains have replaced the historic herds of bison and have become a vital positive element of grassland perpetuation there today. The effects of introduced livestock upon Native peoples – both the good and the bad – will be included. The topic of how an explosion of livestock numbers, particularly sheep, caused increasing environmental damage, especially to the state’s extensive grasslands, will lead to how the deterioration of our native grasslands was finally recognized by scientists, eventually resulting in the enactment of laws such as the Taylor Grazing Act, various state regulations, and the adoption of more progressive livestock management practices. The program concludes with a description of interviews made with representatives of four ethnic groups in our state, relating their views of how livestock has affected their own families in the past (nearly all of it positive). This presentation is about 45 minutes long and will be followed by a short discussion with the audience. Please scheduled time with us on this event and support Bill’s promotion of his new book and its tours throughout the state. Bring your family and friends along with you at the Western Heritage Museum.
Posted on: Mon, 12 Aug 2013 20:21:23 +0000
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