I was given a copy of the DVD “The Last Conquistador” directed and filmed by John J. Valadez and Christina Ibarra and have found these two individuals to be frauds, charming their way into my confidence and saying anything it took, to get us involved.  When I first met with the pair I asked out right, if this was going to be biased and portray our ancestors once again as villains, as assigned by the Black Legend.  They assured me that because of their Spanish Roots, they would do a fair job.  As far as I was concerned when a person gives their word it’s their bond; unfortunately I was not dealing with people of honor.  
    I apologize to the members of NMHCPL and those especially who donated funds to help produce the “documentary” I use the term documentary loosely because it is far from a documentary, it shows great editing skills with deliberate attempts to bias.  A letter has been sent to these two cons asking for a refund and to have the NMHCPL removed from the sponsors listed.  As one would expect neither of the two had the decency to respond.  The Judas money received from well intended people was used to denigrate the very people who gave valuable time, money, support and advocacy.  I was lead to believe that the film was going to be strength based and would show the intense labor and human spirit it took to create such a fabulous sculpture. Shamefully, even John Sherrill Houser was used and cheated out of his so deserved recognition and honors, for his years of labor and sacrifice.  El Paso Twelve Travelers was horrified by the DVD. My final comments to John J. Valadez is: “There was a beautiful story here, sorry you lost your way and hurt a lot of nice people who worked hard to help you and Mr. Houser.” This end product shows your deliberate taking from well intentioned people, who worked hard and gave so much to help you.  Now I understand why you were vague in talking about the end results.  Even Mr. Houser is victimized.  You have succeeded in cheating the public of a “documentary” that could have also shown an artists talents and heart, but instead of showing human strengths, we have another protest by revisionists, that has little to do with equitable truth. Conchita

"John J. Valadez and Christina Ibarra said they were
 proud of their Spanish roots
 but their film fails"

The Last Conquistador video may be premiered at Acoma.   John J. Valadez and Christiana Ibarra feel this would be appropriate and I must agree because it starts out with Theodore de Bry engravings and it continues downward from there.  The video focuses on the Native view point and revisionist history, and we have been ambushed again. 

 Sculptor John Sherrill Houser was an after- thought,

 I give this one La Leyenda Negra award                                                     Conchita


"Onions are anti-cancer”   by Conchita Lucero