DG - The Last Conquistador - PBS

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Discussion Guide | The Last ConquistadorDiscussion PromptsSeason21• David Romo notes that some people callOñate “the last conquistador,” but that in hisexperience, the conquest of Indian people isongoing; it didn’t end with Oñate. MaurusChino also experiences discrimination ascurrent, noting that to him, the statue is scary,either because people don’t know that Oñatedecimated the Acoma or, worse, because theyknow, but don’t care. What role do you thinkcurrent prejudice and discrimination play inthe dispute over this monument to the past?• John Houser predicts, “When thisequestrian monument is finally up, the battlewill be over. And there will be no point inanyone trying to fight it anymore. And peoplewill accept it, and people will begin to love it.”In your view, what issues are resolved by theproject’s completion and what issues remainunresolved?• In a democracy, when the majority votes to do somethingthat hurts a minority (as happened in El Paso’s City Council),what can a community do to heal the wound? Now that thestatue has been installed, what could people in El Paso do tohonor one another’s truths?• Romo says, “Many browns want to be white. It’s realcomplicated, and we all have a legacy on both sides — partIndian on one side and part Spaniard on another side. That’swhat we are, so which side are you going to take?” Is there away El Paso could have honored the city’s mestizaje, theblending of Indian and Spanish roots, rather than choosing oneover the other?Working in the Public Interest• City Council Representative Anthony Cobos says thatspending a million dollars of public money is not appropriatewhen “it’s going to create a lot of heartache for thiscommunity.” If you had been on the El Paso City Council, wouldyou have voted to fund the statue of Oñate? Why or why not?Acoma Pueblo.Photo courtesy of Valadez Media• Amazed that people could dismiss the reasons for hisobjection, an Acoma person asks, “Who makes thesedecisions?” How are decisions about spending made in yourcommunity? Are all stakeholders involved in the process?• One of Anthony Cobos’s constituents objects to spendingpublic funds on any kind of art when there are pressing needsfor things like housing. In your view, should public funds bereserved for practical needs like parks, housing, health care,education and safety? Why or why not? How might socioeconomicstatus influence beliefs about the use of public fundingfor art? What role did socioeconomic class play in the debateover the statue of Juan de Oñate?• In your view, would the substance of the objections to orsupport for the statue have changed if this had been a privatelyfunded project on privately owned land? If funding had beenprivate, but donors received a tax credit for their contribution, towhat degree is the project public? How does the presence ofpublic resources affect decisions about the statue?© American Documentary, Inc.18
Discussion Guide | The Last ConquistadorTaking ActionSeason21• John Houser describes being inspired by hisfather’s work at Mount Rushmore. ResearchAmerican Indian views on that monument. In whatways is the meaning of the mountain different forHouser than for the tribes who consider themountain sacred?• Create a “walking tour” guide to the art ondisplay in your community. Suggest projects thatmight fill in perspectives that are absent orunderrepresented.• Study the history of the encounter betweenconquistadors and indigenous peoples with aspecial focus on Juan de Oñate and the Pueblopeoples. Then imagine that you are the curator foran exhibit of the XII Travelers. Write a sampleplaque to post next to Houser’s statue of theconquistador. You might also develop plaques forsites relevant to Hispanic or Native Americanheritage in your own community and work withgovernment and civic groups to post your plaques.• Bring together different groups in yourcommunity for a series of history-sharing potlucks.Focus on telling the stories of specificneighborhoods, towns or events. If needed, have afacilitator present to help people actively listen andappreciate that different people may haveexperienced the same events differently. Considerinviting journalists to cover the series and report onthe community history that emerges.The finished mold of Juan de Oñate statue.Photo courtesy of The XII Travelers Committee© American Documentary, Inc.19
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DG - The Last Conquistador - PBS

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