¡Colores!; Ganados del Valle

KNME-TV (Television station : Albuquerque, N.M.) · October 17, 1990

All over the world, rural cultures are losing ground. In a 1987 study, World Watch Institute observed that reviving rural economies is a low priority in a world dominated by excessive urbanization. In northern New Mexico's Chama River Valley, a cooperative of sheepherders and artisans has brought much hope and economic progress to this region. Ganados del Valle is a non-profit corporation started by sheep growers and weavers, providing for a rural economy and way of life that has virtually disappeared in the United States. However, Ganados is not without its obstacles. Over recent years, there has been a bitter dispute with the state's Game Commission and Environmentalists over sheep grazing on public lands and the impact on wildlife habitats. While Ganados del Valle maintains its support for wildlife protection, the cooperative still depends on access to grazing lands for its own survival. ¡Colores! visits with members of the cooperative and explores their art, life style and ongoing efforts to keep a rural culture alive. Guests: Martín Romero (Sheepherder, Ganados del Valle), Gumercindo Salazar (Ganados del Valle), Johanna Terrazas (Tierra Wools), Rachel Brown (Weaver), Maria Varela (Ganados del Valle), Arnold Martinez (Sheep Rancher), Hedy Garcia (Los Vecinos Unidos - Ocate, New Mexico), Bill Waldman (The Nature Conservancy), Antonio Manzanares (Ganados del Valle), Gerald Maestas (State Game Commission), Patricia Quintana (Pastores Lamb), Sophie Chavez (Rio Arriba Wool Washing Plant), Molly Manzanares (Pastores Feed and General Store), Jose Rivera (Southwest Hispanic Research Institute, University of New Mexico). Host: Esther Reyes.