Respeto y Repartimiento

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Respeto y Repartimiento: Plática on Water Sharing Traditions

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Join us for an online platica about the acequia tradition of sharing water, known as repartimiento. This will be first in a series of online pláticas, or dialogues, focused on water sharing customs and practices among acequias. Our first plática on repartimiento will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2020 from 1:00pm – 3:00pm via Zoom, Facebook Live, and conference call.

For centuries in New Mexico, the customs and traditions of water sharing have been vital to the well-being of communities, providing water through the principle of equity and keeping peaceful relations with neighboring families and communities.

During the pandemic, acequias are facing a growing interest in locally grown food resulting in more demand for water by growers who need reliable water for crops and livestock. Adding to the stress on acequias is climate change that is causing more intense and longer droughts, with less snowpack, runoff, and irrigation water.

It has never been more important for the acequia community to dig deep into our cultural memory to remember the generations of teachings about the importance of sharing water and to be mindful of the scarcity of water that we rely upon for our survival.

Our gathering will feature poetry and storytelling to ground us a cultural worldview grounded in respect, caring for one’s neighbors, and working together for the common good. Our featured artist will be Levi Romero, New Mexico Poet Laureate, whose upbringing in Dixon immersed him in land-based culture that resonates in his poetry. Levi will share poetry and reflections on a recent essay entitled, “Respeto, Caridad, y Repartimiento.” Also, musician David Garcia will perform music rooted in acequia lifeways.

Gilbert Sandoval, President of the Jemez River Basin Coalition of Acequias, will share his experience in negotiating water sharing agreements with neighboring Pueblos. Gilbert’s story will highlight the knowledge and experience needed in the difficult and complicated work of creating water-sharing agreements, which can take decades to resolve but also remain a work in progress as our climate changes and as communities change over time. Other acequia elders will be invited to share their own experiences with past or current water sharing practices.

The plática will take place on Zoom, Facebook Live, and by conference call. Click here to sign up for the platica.

When you register, NMAA will send you the instructions to use Zoom, Facebook Live, or conference call to participate.

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