A MEMORIAL

PROCLAIMING 2003 AS THE "YEAR OF ATRISCO".

WHEREAS, Atrisco lies in the valle de Atrisco, which spans Angostura, Algodones, Bernalillo and Isleta; and

WHEREAS, Atrisco was likely named by Nahuatl auxiliaries known as Tlascalans, who accompanied the Juan de Onate expedition in 1598; and

WHEREAS, Axlico, a Nahuatl word that is similar to the name Atrisco, means "near the waters"; and

WHEREAS, the Atrisco land grant is named for the valley in which it is located; and

WHEREAS, Atrisco is one of the first of over three hundred Spanish land grants in the Provincia de Nuevo Mexico made in 1692; and

WHEREAS, several people settled Atrisco in 1696, including the extended family of Don Fernando Duran y Chaves; and

WHEREAS, Atrisco is the oldest Hispanic living community in Albuquerque; and

WHEREAS, Atrisco became one of the first incorporated towns in New Mexico in 1892; and

WHEREAS, the year of 2003 marks the tricentennial anniversary of the Atrisco community; and

WHEREAS, the "Year of Atrisco" will be observed in Bernalillo county in August 2003 during the Atrisco annual fiesta;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that 2003 be proclaimed as the "Year of Atrisco" in the New Mexico house of representatives in honor of the valle de Atrisco and its counties, municipalities, villages and pueblos; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the governor.