In “Food Sovereignty and a Desert Landrace,” New Mexico shepherd Jennifer Douglass recounts a visit to her Navajo friend’s home in Rocky Ridge, Arizona—where generations have raised Navajo-Churro sheep in one of the most remote parts of the Southwest. The essay offers a glimpse into a life rooted in land, memory, and daily care. Churro […]
In 2012, Larry Godfrey — one of the original founders of the Southwest Word Fiesta — stepped away from the organizing committee. With his departure, he left behind not just memories and contributions, but also a gift. Rooted in the spirit of the Gila, the weight of time, and the tension between old and new, […]
This April, the Bayard Public Library is proud to celebrate National Poetry Month by welcoming New Mexico poet Michelle Otero for a weekend of workshops and community gathering. With support from Southwest Word Fiesta and LULAC Silver City Council 8003, these events are designed to bring people together through the shared experience of poetry. On […]
This Thursday, the WNMU Miller Library will fill with voices—some seasoned, some fresh, all full of heart—as the Humanities Department hosts its annual National Poetry Month celebration. Starting at 11 AM, the event brings together an inspiring mix of poets: WNMU students, faculty, local writers, and special guests including WNMU Provost Jack Crocker and Heather […]
Long before the “Acid Western” had a name, The Devil’s Mistress was redefining the genre. Shot in 1965 by NMSU professor Orville “Buddy” Wanzer with a cast of Las Cruces locals, this trailblazing indie film put Southern New Mexico on the cinematic map. Now, after years in obscurity, it returns in a newly restored version […]
The Silver City Public Library will host a Winter Poetry Challenge in partnership with the current poet laureate of Silver City and Grant County, Heather Frankland, in December 2024 and January 2025! The poet laureate program is housed within the Southwest Word Fiesta. Challenge bingo cards will be available at the library, and participants will […]
We respectfully acknowledge that the entirety of southwestern New Mexico is the traditional territory, since time immemorial, of the Chis-Nde, also known as the people of the Chiricahua Apache Nation. The Chiricahua Apache Nation is recognized as a sovereign Native Nation by the United States in the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Friendship of 1 July 1852 (10 Stat. 979) (Treaty of Santa Fe ratified 23 March 1853 and proclaimed by President Franklin Pierce 25 March 1853).
Articles
A Desert Story of Sheep, Memory, and Belonging
Witnessing Beauty in a Time of Change
Poetry and Community: Michelle Otero to Lead Workshops at Bayard Public Library
A Celebration of Poetry, Community, and Creative Voice
Rediscover The Devil’s Mistress
Winter Poetry Challenge: A Celebration of Words and Community
