SENATE MEMORIAL 39

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

Jacob R. Candelaria

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT NEW MEXICO'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION PURSUE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR A MUSEUM DEDICATED TO LAND GRANT HISTORY IN NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's land grants are an important part of the state's culture and history and have played a unique role in the state, both when the area was part of Spanish and Mexican territory and when Nuevo México was incorporated into the United States; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's land grants define the identity of many of the state's indigenous people; and

     WHEREAS, Article 2, Section 5 of the constitution of New Mexico states, "The rights, privileges and immunities, civil, political and religious guaranteed to the people of New Mexico by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo shall be preserved inviolate", providing powerful constitutional protection to the rights of the state's land grant communities; and

     WHEREAS, while other states in the southwest had land grants, in no other state have land grants played such a significant role, and in no other state is land grant identity as strong as in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's land grant heirs have fought in every war for the United States since 1848, when the area that is now New Mexico became part of the United States; and

     WHEREAS, preservation of this history is in the best interest of the United States and of New Mexico and its residents, now and for the future, in order that this unique aspect of the history of the nation be remembered;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that New Mexico's congressional delegation be requested to pursue federal funding for a museum dedicated to the history of New Mexico's land grants; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the town of Atrisco land grant be considered as the location for a state land grant museum, as it is both one of the most historic land grants in the state and it is centrally located, making such a museum easy to visit; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the members of New Mexico's congressional delegation.