Central Arizona Community CollegeCentral Arizona Community College

Coolidge, AZSeptember 26, 2012

Poem:

“Who Am I?”

by

Elena Díaz Bjorkquist ©2011

Morenci, Arizona

Morenci is 174 miles northeast of Tucson

It’s near Clifton

Morenci in early 1900’s

Miners working in underground mine

Holy Cross Catholic Church

1914

1964

Most Chicanos were Catholic and attended this church

Morenci in the late 60’s

Royal Theater and Shopping Center

Shopping Center and Smokestack

Same view 1987

Close up of same view

Same view in 1990’s

Open Pit Mine in the 60’s

Open Pit Mine 1987

1967

1987

Morenci Pit 2000

NEW MORENCI – FORMERLY PLANTSITE

Chicanas de Morenci

Poem

“Standing on the Shoulders of My Maternal

Ancestors”

by 

Elena Díaz Bjorkquist ©2011

““If I stand tall it is because I stand on the shoulders If I stand tall it is because I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors.”of my ancestors.”

Yoruba ProverbYoruba Proverb

Josefa Cruz Limón born in Teocaltiche, Jalisco who stands on the shoulders of . . .

Teresa Limón Díaz born in Teocaltiche, Jalisco who stands on the shoulders of . . .

Natividad Díaz Herrera born in El Paso, Texas who stands on the shoulders of . . .

I, Elena Díaz Bjorkquist born in Morenci, Arizona stand on the shoulders of . . .

I stand on their shoulders,

looking down at these beautiful madres.

I feel their strength radiate up

as they support me,know their sacrifices,

their joys.I am who I am

because of them.

the unknown madre who came

before, her name lost in the mist of time, wars,

and conquest, who stands on the

shoulders ofa long line of nantin, the mothers

from the ancient tribes of Mexico,

Aztecas, Chichimecas, Toltecas, Huachichiles,

Zacatecas, and Tecuexes. Nantin who lived in that part of Mexico known as the “place of the

temple.”

Natividad Díaz Herrera

I was born in El Paso, Texas on December 24, 1921.

Mi familia.

Natividad Díaz Herrera

Natividad Díaz Herrera

. . . everything was done at my mom's. My mom made the food and of course mole.

For entertainment we loved to go to the movies. We went to every movie that came to town.

Natividad Díaz Herrera

Childhood

Miners at entrance of Longfellow Mine

Natividad Díaz Herrera

María Manelli Ponce

We went dancing. You know over there en El Imperio? They used to make dances.

María Manelli Ponce

I used to be neighbors with my husband. We used to play together. I was four years older than he.

María Manelli Ponce

Family Life

Morenci Houses

María Manelli Ponce

Josephine Martinez Granado

My mother was Carlotta Limón Martinez and my father, Isidro Martinez. They were both from Jalisco, Mexico but they met in Morenci. My mother was fourteen.

Josephine Martinez Granado

Of course we would go to Mass and to the Rosary. We were very devout people, very Catholic devout people.

Josephine Martinez Granado

My mother had six children. My brother Santiago; I was next in line, and then there was Isidro and Ernesto and Samuel and Sara.”

Josephine Martinez Granado

The Depression

“There was a deportation during the Depression where Mexicanos were sent

back to Mexico.”

Josephine Martinez Granado

Eduvigen Navarette Hernandez

I was born on October 21, 1918 in Eagle Creek, about seven miles from the pump going down from Morenci.

Eduvigen Navarette Hernandez

Every year there [on the ranch] my father made jaripeos (rodeos).

Eduvigen Navarette Hernandez

Work Experience

I worked at the Copper Kettle and then later I went to the Longfellow

Inn.

Eduvigen Navarette Hernandez

Emma Ruiz Pando

I was born May 31, 1915 in la Cuidad de Chihuahua, Mexico.

Emma Ruiz Pando

My mother and my father brought me to Metcalf when I was six months old. We moved to Morenci in 1934 when the company closed Metcalf.

Emma Ruiz Pando

Emma & Leo Pando

July 1944

Married Life

Emma Ruiz Pando

Josephine Díaz Todd

I was born August the 27th, 1924 in Morenci. My parents were Teresa Limón Díaz and Wenseslado Díaz. They came from Mexico. Jalisco. We lived up in AC Hill.

Josephine Díaz Todd

I met Donald Todd in a carnival in Morenci. I just thought he was for me and I was for him.

Josephine Díaz Todd

Community Life 

Josephine Díaz Todd

Reading:

“Mama Carmela”

an excerpt from Our Spirit, Our Reality

by

Elena Díaz Bjorkquist

Growing Up in Morenci gave me

Values that make me who I am

today:Love of family – extended to love of community

Courage to stand up for my rights and the rights of others

Patience and perseverance

A strong work ethic and a sense of commitment

Honesty and Pride

Hope for a better future

Sharing what I have or know

Poem

“Writing as Salvation”

by

Elena Díaz Bjorkquist

I write for salvation.Writing lets me find myself —to go back to my childhoodexplore who I was,where I’ve been. I write to share the lives of Chicanos in an Arizona townswallowed up by a copper mine. I write true stories as fictionbased upon my life,the lives of my family,friends in Morenci. 

Writing as Salvation 

I write to help me heal.Writing gives meA better understandingof myself, my health, and relationships. I write so that otherswon’t have to listento complaints aboutmy physicalor emotional pain. I write for its rewards.Writing is my passion.Writing is my salvation.Writing lets me knowI’m alive.

Special thanks to Kurt Bjorkquist for scanning the photos