This Wildlife Refuge Acts as a Safe Space To Get Back to Nature for Surrounding Communities
Credit: Nuestro Stories Stretched across 570 acres of land in New Mexico lies the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge. While most wildlife refuges cater to specific animals or local agriculture, Valle de Oro is unique because it is considered one of the nation’s few “urban” wildlife refuges. An urban wildlife refuge, or preserve, is […]
This Apalachee Mission is the Only Mission Whose Location is Known to Date
Image courtesy of Nuestro Stories. The Spanish first began colonizing the land now known as Florida in the 1560s, though the colonization effort itself moved slowly. While Florida had somewhat of an appeal to the Spanish for its location (it was a good place to hide ships from pirates), it was lacking in the types […]
How Forced Migrations Patterns Brought Asian Labor to Latin American Countries
Image courtesy of Nuestro Stories. While it may not always be talked about, or dissected often, there was a major forced migration pattern starting in the 16th century that spread thousands upon thousands of Asian immigrants across a variety of Latin countries. What is known as the Spanish Colonial Period in the Philippines, between 1565 […]
The First Café Bustelo Storefront Created a Sense of Community for Thousands of Latinos
Credit: Nuestro Stories There is no mistaking the bright, bold colors of that vacuum-sealed brick of dark roasted delight. Café Bustelo has been a mainstay in the Latino and Hispanic culture for nearly 100 years, with the first storefront opening in 1931. In a time when a major wave of Latino immigrants were making their […]
There’s a Deep Connection Between Afro-Ecuadorians and the Once-Banned Dance of Marimba
Credit: Nuestro Stories The origin of the Marimba, as a dance, a chant, and a musical instrument, traces back thousands of years to various regions of Africa. Starting first as a musical instrument, one that is most similar to what we know as a modern xylophone, the marimba it seems, was named after a heroine […]
Ancestral Traditions and Knowledge of Health Combine at Maciel’s Plant-Based Butcher and Deli
Image courtesy of Nuestro Stories. In recent times, many of us have become immersed in the de-assimilation of our cultural traditions while finding healthier ways to approach the food we consume. This is where Maciel’s Plant-Based Butcher & Deli comes in. Maciel Banales Luna grew up in Durango, MX, with a father who encouraged environmentalism, […]
The National Dance of Peru Holds a Powerful Mythos
Image courtesy of Nuestro Stories. La Marinera, also known as the national dance of Peru, has a history that dates back centuries — one that tells the tale of a back and forth between lovers, a push and pull between the uncertainty of love. Yet, this dance also has a background steeped in political conflict, […]
The Rise of El Fenix was the Birth of Tex-Mex
Credit: Nuestro Stories You can’t say the words “Tex-Mex” without paying homage to the legend who created the restaurants that officially started it all. Miguel ‘Mike’ Martinez, the creator of El Fenix. Mike Martinez was born in 1890 in Hacienda del Potrero in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Martinez loved his hometown and seemed fairly content to […]
Whether a Haunting Solo, or a Powerful Ensemble, Los Gritos are Found in Mariachi and Ranchera Music
Credit: Lorin Granger/HLS Staff Photographer When it comes to the musical traditions of Mexico, none are so powerful, so culturally and emotionally connected as Mariachi music. Or… Ranchera music. Or both? It depends on who you ask. What IS the difference between Mariachis and Rancheras? Is there even a difference at all? The answer to […]
The First Mexican Wine Bar in the United States Pays Homage to Maya Ancestry
Image courtesy of Nuestro Stories. The first Mexican wine bar in the United States recently opened in the Bay Area. The owners and chefs are bringing together one of the flavors of the Yucatec Peninsula with the wines of the Guadalupe del Valle to create Cantina Los Mayas. The restaurant and wine bar, which just […]
Anything for Selena: This Corpus Christi Museum Honors the Queen of Tejano Music
Credit: Nuestro Stories From the car she drove to the bustiers that drove her father crazy, to her groundbreaking Grammy – you can find a little bit of everything in the Selena Quintanilla museum in her hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas. The museum houses the largest collection of Selena-related memorabilia in the country. Selena was […]
Revolution in the Time of Las Mariposas: A Brief History of Las Hermanas Mirabal
Credit: Nuestro Stories Las Hermanas Mirabal, also known as Las Mariposas, was a trio of sisters who are credited for actively assisting in the dismantling of the brutal regime led by despotic dictator Rafael Trujillo. He held the Dominican Republic hostage under his rule for 30 years. Trujillo was detrimental to the Dominican Republic Known […]