Dear Editor,

Your recent story about our local artisan reviving the centuries old culture of our country’s southwest was enlightening and a much needed breath of fresh air.

Catherine Robles-Shaw’s beautiful art work reminds us of the spiritual roots of the ancestors of the vast majority of the southwest United States who have inhabited this land since before the arrival of Christopher Columbus.

It is unfortunate that newly arrived Colorado transplants do not often understand the history of this culturally rich state. It is especially sad in these times of anti-immigrant sentiment when there is little knowledge of who the “immigrants” are. Those of us who are of Spanish ancestry, native to this region number 40 million Americans whose ancestors have been settled habitants for centuries- before there was an America.

Thanks to Catherine Robles-Shaw’s wonderful creativity and talent, our deeply religious culture continues.

Maria Rodriguez
Rollinsville