News Release

Race and Ethnicity: The Origins of Hispano Identity in New Mexico

Date: October 11, 2017
Contact: Visitor Center, 505-757-7200

Pecos, NM: – Pecos National Historical Park will honor National Hispanic Heritage Month with a free lecture by Dr. Adrian Bustamante on Saturday, October 21st titled “Race and Ethnicity: The Origins of Hispano Identity in New Mexico”. Dr. Bustamante will explore why multiple ascribed and self-ascribed ethnic terms such as Hispano, Mejicano Spanish American, etc, are used to describe descendants of colonial settlers in New Mexico. The presentation will take place in the Kiva Theater at the Visitor Center at 1:00 p.m. on October 21st.

Adrian H. Bustamante was born in Pecos, New Mexico and raised in Santa Fe where his mother’s family has lived for 400 years and his father’s for three centuries. He graduated from St. Michael's High School, received his Bachelor of Arts Degree, Cum Laude, from the College of Santa Fe in history; his Master of Arts Degree in counseling from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas; and his Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of New Mexico.  

Dr. Bustamante is an ethno-historian specializing in culture change and the cultural history of the Hispanos in the American Southwest. He spent 34 years in higher education in New Mexico and southern Colorado teaching Southwest Studies and holding various administrative positions. A believer in public service he has served as President of the Museum of New Mexico Board of Regents; was the first Curator of El Rancho de Las Golondrinas Museum; was a member of the New Mexico Council for the Humanities; the New Mexico Space Museum Board; the New Mexico Quincentenary Commission; a founding member of the Board of the Santa Fe Trail Association; and Board member and Chair of the History Task Force of Santa Fe’s Cuartocentinario (400th) celebration. After his retirement, he served as New Mexico Cultural Affairs Officer and Executive Director of the National Hispanic Center.

This program is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Pecos NHP at [phone].