Event Recap: Holiday Cocktails & Conservation

Talking Hispano Cultural Traditions and Connection to the Land

Nearly 25 people joined HECHO on Tuesday, December 15 for our Holiday Cocktails & Conservation event to hear stories of traditions rooted in our Hispano cultural connection to the land. Enjoying a demonstration of our event’s signature drink, Abuelita Hot Cocoa with Kahlua, participants also engaged in a conversation regarding special memories and traditions that take place for many Hispano people during the Christmas season.

A newly formed tradition for HECHO, Holiday Cocktails & Conservation opened dialogue for community members to share their own cultural traditions around the Holidays. Sisters Juliana and Theresa Huereña demonstrated their family recipe of mince-meat empanadas made of game meat from hunting and pinyons traditionally gathered from forest trees. Founding Board Member, Kent Salazar, shared his seasonal hunting tradition, and community member, Steve Peru shared a beautiful remembrance of his late mother and their special camping memories.

Event moderator and HECHO Advisory Board and founding member, Liz Archuleta organized the event that celebrated cultural heritage. Her family shared memories of cutting wood for their fireplace, and finding the perfect Christmas Tree and Yule Log in their local forest.  Liz’s brother, Esteban Archuleta, said it was during these family outings on public lands that a strong conservation ethic and stewardship of natural resources was passed on to them. 

“Sharing our cultural traditions and memories reminds us of how connected we are to one another and to the land,” Elizabeth Archuleta said. “It was touching and heartwarming to know our Hispano holiday traditions deeply rooted in nature are celebrated intergenerationally and being passed down from generation to generation,” said Archuleta.

Rounding out the event, participants joined break out rooms where everybody was invited to share their favorite holiday traditions. Conversations about traditional meals, special dances, and family recipes resounded, and the common thread of our culture was evident.

To close the event out, intentions were shared about how participants would connect to the outdoors in 2021, and many spoke of hiking more, hunting for meat, camping, and starting their own gardens.

If you missed out on the event and would like to attend a future virtual Cocktails & Conservation, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter here.

An event recap can be viewed below: