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[article provided by Lona. Thanks!]

 http://www.abqjournal.com/paperboy/link/news/16news02-24-00.htm

Thursday, February 24, 2000
Council Delays Memorial Action

By Anthony DellaFlora
Journal Staff Writer

 The question of if and when a proposed Cuarto Centenario memorial is built
in Albuquerque continues to get more complicated, and it will not be
resolved for at least two more weeks.
 The Albuquerque City Council voted 6-2 Wednesday night to defer action on
the matter, in order to give opposing sides a chance to reach a compromise.
 Before voting to defer, however, councilors let about two dozen members of
the public speak about the issue. About 100 people for and against the
memorial showed up at the meeting, some carrying signs.
 More than $600,000 has been allocated to build a monument at Tiguex Park,
honoring the convergence of Native American and Spanish cultures in 1598.
That's when New Mexico colonizer Juan de Oñate led a party of settlers into
the territory to claim it for Spain.
 A sticking point has been the inclusion of a representation of Oñate, seen
as a hero to many Hispanics, but reviled by others for his mistreatment of
the indigenous people, particularly at Acoma Pueblo.
 The current design includes a bronze figure of Oñate leading the settlers.
It also includes a conceptual landscape representing the Native American
view of the area before the Spanish arrived.
 Members of the public and councilors expressed their concern that the
proposed project was dividing the community instead of bringing it together,
and for that reason, it should not be supported.
 Councilor Hess Yntema said he would not support the memorial in its present
form. It was designed by New Mexico artists Betty Sabo, Reynaldo "Sonny"
Rivera and Nora Naranjo-Morse.
 "I will oppose the project, I do oppose the project, any commemoration of
Oñate, if Native American people oppose it, just as a matter of public art
policy," he said.
 The location of the memorial was also a concern Wednesday.
 Councilor Alan Armijo said the proposed monument could be moved to a
different location, although there is no specific place in mind. As some in
opposition to the monument have noted, Tiguex Park was built to honor native
Tewa people and their descendants.
 The price of the monument also appears to be an issue. The original cost
for the piece was about $180,000, but it has since grown to more than
$600,000 as the scope of the project has been expanded.
 Activist Millie Santillanes said Oñate statue supporters have compromised
several times throughout the process, and she didn't think there was
anything left to offer from their side.
 But she said supporters would continue working with the council. "We're
prepared to go the distance, like our ancestors that walked from January to
August," she said, referring to Oñate's party. "We are going to do whatever
the City Council wants us to do."
 Oñate detractors said honoring him was a slap in the face of Native
Americans.
 "I'm begging you: Don't do this to my people," a tearful Aleta Paisano of
Acoma pleaded to the council. "Don't hurt them this way."
 

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