Enslavement in Southern Colorado w/Virginia Sanchez

Virginia Sanchez returns to talk about migration into Southern Colorado, life for our ancestors in that area, and rare documentation of enslaved people in Hispano communities there.

Places mentioned: Huerfano, Cucharas, San Luis Valley

You can order the book Nacion Genizara here.

For a complete list of Virginia's work, visit her LinkedIn profile.

Virginia shared lyrics to a comanchero song - "If you go to Navajoland, take your burial shroud with you. Because dying over these is certain and cannot be negotiated." Virginia found the lyrics in a journal written by Lucas Martinez, who was born in Cucharas, and lived in Chavez, Huerfano County, Colorado. According to Dr. Enrique Lamadrid, this verse is still sung by the Comanches de la Serna. This document and his journal are located in the Hart Library of the History Colorado Center in Denver. 

On Pages 179-180 and 188-192 of Virginia's chapter (Chapter 8) in Nacion Genizara, you'll find additional captivity songs, laments, and lullabies.  

You can find a recording of La Cautiva Marcelina, sung by Virginia Bernal, available on Vimeo here.

Correction: The cautiva song, La Cautiva Marcelina was not a children's rhyme.