I attended a presentation May 8 at San Juan Elementary that was directed by Roger Montoya. Roger is a very dear neighbor of mine and a very special and famous artist. He works whole-heartedly with the children in the Española School District and spearheads the Arts in the Schools Program.
During this presentation he involved most of the 385 students. It was quite a performance. Under his direction, they re-enacted the history of Ohkay Owingeh beginning with prehistoric events up to the election of President Obama, It is amazing how Montoya is able to manage so many kids, teaching them discipline, while also, teaching them to dance, narrate, sing and act at the same time. Students designed their own costumes, wrote the narrations and studied the history of their community in the process of preparing this program.
I had the honor of having a kindergarten class re-enact a story I had told Roger about the Chili Line Express. A friend of mine and myself tramped a train to Alamosa, Colo. when we were nine, without the permission of our parents. When we got to Alamosa, we had only a nickel, which we used to buy a coke before heading back to Velarde. In those times, the 1930s, a nickel bought a lot more than now.
When we came back from Alamosa and our parents found out what we had done, we got a good spanking.
Roger wanted the children to learn they should always let their parents know where they are going so their parents aren’t worried and looking for them. From this early experience of tramping a train, a friend of mine and I tramped a train again when we were 18 years old.
When World War II broke out we went to look for a job in San Francisco. We didn’t have any money. We found jobs in Oakland, in the shipyards. From there we joined the Navy to go and fight for our country.
I want to congratulate Roger for the efforts and work he put into the presentation and the lessons and history that he taught students.
Alfonso Atencio
Velarde