Böcker av Carol Paradise Decker

The great Pecos Mission is now reduced to roofless red walls that loom over the surrounding countryside in Northern New Mexico. Each year thousands of visitors view the ruins and the earth-covered rubble of the pueblo it served. About 20 miles east of Santa Fe, the site is now protected by the National Park Service. But what was the role of the mission? What was its influence? Why does it still matter? When Spanish explorers first visited Pecos in 1540, they described the pueblo of about 2,000 persons as the "biggest and best" of the Indian communities they had yet seen. This eastern pueblo dominated the pass through the mountains between the Great Plains and the Rio Grande valley, controlling travel and trade over a large area of what is now New Mexico. In 1625, Franciscan missionaries completed the huge church at this site. From here they introduced Christianity and the heritage of medieval Spain, profoundly affecting the lives of the pueblo people. The church was destroyed during the Pueblo Revolt in 1680. Its foundations embrace the smaller church, finished in 1717, whose walls we see now. This book brings you glimpses of people, events and the continuing significance of the old Pecos Mission. CAROL PARADISE DECKER moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico from New England in 1980. Since then she has taught Spanish, New Mexico Heritage, and Intercultural Relations to adult groups in many venues. For five years (1998-2003) she served as a volunteer at the Pecos National Historical Park. Her first book, "Pecos Pueblo People Through the Ages," also from Sunstone Press, is a series of stories explaining how changing times affected the lives of the people. This new book shares some perspectives on the old mission itself.

The once great Pecos Pueblo has deteriorated to a series of rock and earthen humps on a narrow ridge in the Upper Pecos Valley in New Mexico. The nearby mission church is reduced to roofless red walls eroding among the foundations of its larger predecessor. Now that they are under the care of the National Park Service, visitors stroll the Ruins Trail awed by the remains and eager to know more of their story. Who were the people who called this place home over the centuries? What were their lives like in times of calm and crisis? Where did the people go when the Pueblo was abandoned? And how can their descendents claim that "e;we are still here!"e;? These ten stories range through the centuries from stone age hunters of the distant past to the return of the ancestors in 1999. Linked by an ancient bone bead each describes a particular event from the perspective of a young girl and her family.

Cultural differences can cause problems. In this book, the author details a workshop she conducted and the lessons learned in "Vecinos" (broadly defined as "neighbors") experiences in New Mexico that addressed these problems. The themes explored were crucial: the power of names, the tri-cultural trap, culture and cultures, stereotypes, heritage, values, racism, communications, conflict, bridges, and more. Though the focus is on relationships, the implication is that these relationships will lead to action and alliances as everyone works together on community and individuals' problems. Some of the text is "commentary," introducing a theme or reflecting on some of its manifestations. Illustrative stories are sometimes included to add to the account. A large part of the book is devoted to quotations more or less intact, by individuals that reveal perspectives on some of the larger issues dealt with. Although there are plenty of resources-books, documentaries, articles, films-the author states that they must not substitute for contact with real people. Included also are many timeless tips about dealing with cross-cultural contacts. The author hopes that this book will help increase the reader's awareness, comfort and effectiveness in their own intercultural associations, and lead to warm, enriching friendships for many years.CAROL PARADISE DECKER came to Santa Fe from Connecticut in 1980 with a background in Spanish, adult education and intercultural relations. Since then she has taught Spanish, New Mexico Heritage, and Intercultural Relations to adult groups in many venues. For five years (1998-2003) she served as a volunteer at the Pecos National Historical Park. As she observed life in New Mexico, she wondered how to help cross the cultural gaps among the various people she encountered. Her previous books, both from Sunstone Press, are "Pecos Pueblo People through the Ages," explaining how changing times affected the lives of many people, and "The Great Pecos Mission," both based on her five years as a volunteer at the Pecos National Historical Park.