Mescal Roast at Carlsbad’s Living Desert Park
celebrates history, culture, legend of Mescaleros
<center><table border=0 align=center><tr><td><caption><font size=-1 face="Arial Narrow" color=#000000>Harvesting mescal to prepare for the roast. (Photo courtesy Friends of Living Desert Park.)</font></caption><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/livingdesert_mescalroast.jpg border=1 align=center vspace=5 hspace=5 alt="Harvesting mescal to prepare for the roast."></td></tr></table></center>
Carlsbad – Think Carlsbad is pretty far away from Ruidoso? Well, the Mescalero Apaches didn’t. The land around Carlsbad is a prime site for gathering mescal (also called agave and century plant) and over the centuries, they have come to the area to gather this important plant.
Similar in nutritional value to oats, the dried or roasted mescal and is easily stored over long periods. The staple food also is used in traditional ceremonials.
The Friends of the Living Desert Mescal Roast and Mountain Spirit Dances held at the Living Desert State Park each year are unusual, even for New Mexico.
They meld together history and legend with colorful costumes and the Mescalero Apache traditional Dance of the Mountain Spirits around a blazing bonfire. The purpose is to build a better understanding of the multi‑cultural history of New Mexico and demonstrate the importance of preserving and protecting the fragile Chihuahuan desert ecosystem.
There is no better way to demonstrate this and promote the concept of a "living desert", than by highlighting the native peoples who lived off the land in this harsh environment. They existed and prospered without the benefit of modern conveniences while respecting and preserving the delicate balance of plants and animals within their surroundings.
The Friends of Living Desert Mescal Roast is 23 years old this year. This event has increased steadily in popularity and today attracts visitors from not only New Mexico and nearby states, but from across the nation. The Mescal Roast has gone from a small, almost private, gathering to the premier example of a multi-cultural event offering traditional Native American ceremonies in the Southwest.
This year’s Mescal Roast and Mountain Spirit Dances will be held from Thursday, May 7 to Sunday, May 10, 2009 at the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, NM.
Tickets for the evening’s activities are $15.00 each and include the feast dinner, the Apache War Dance, and the Mountain Spirit Dances. Tickets are limited by the available seating and should be purchased in advance (300 per evening). Tickets are on sale at the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park (in person, by mail, or by phone).
For additional information or to purchase tickets call the Living Desert State Park at (575) 887-5516; FAX us at (575) 885-4478; write us at Living Desert State Park, 1504 Miehls Dr., Carlsbad, NM 88221.
<table cellpadding=5 bgcolor=gray><tr><td>
Mescalero Apache: The legend of the Mountain Spirits
<font face="Comic Sans MS" color=white size=3>As has been told to Apache youth for centuries, there were two young men, one was crippled and the other blind.</font>
<font face="Comic Sans MS" color=white size=3>Their band had been attacked and was fleeing from an enemy. So that they would not slow the flight of their tribesmen and jeopardize the safety of themselves and their families, they were hidden. The two handicapped men were placed in a secret mountain cave, the entrance of which was covered by a large boulder.</font>
<font face="Comic Sans MS" color=white size=3>Many days and nights they waited for their tribesmen return. Their food and water ran out, their bodies grew gaunt. They came to fear that they had been abandoned. They knew that death would claim them soon.</font>
<font face="Comic Sans MS" color=white size=3>Then, one night as they huddled in the quiet darkness of the cave, they heard strange and frightening sounds outside. The sounds got louder and louder. Suddenly the boulder was flung aside and five strange figures marched menacingly into the cave. Four were painted black with cryptic white symbols and wore mystical headgear. A fifth was painted white. These were the spirit guardians of the mountain or the mountain gods.</font>
<center><table border=0 align=center><tr><td><caption><font size=-1 face="Arial Narrow" color=#FFFFFF>A mysterious light illuminated the cave silhouetting the figures of the strange intruders. These luminous rays were amazingly transformed into a huge bonfire. </font></caption><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/MountainSpiritsDance.jpg border=1 align=center vspace=5 hspace=5 alt="A mysterious light illuminated the cave silhouetting the figures of the strange intruders."></td></tr></table></center>
<font face="Comic Sans MS" color=white size=3>A mysterious light illuminated the cave silhouetting the figures of the strange intruders. These luminous rays were amazingly transformed into a huge bonfire. Around the fire the spirits danced and chanted. As the figures brandished their wands against unseen enemies and called upon the forces of nature for power and healing, the dance of the Mountain Spirits was revealed.</font>
<font face="Comic Sans MS" color=white size=3>At first, the blind man and the crippled man cowered against the side of the cave, then grew more relaxed as the dancing continued until dawn. They sensed that these were, indeed, powerful spirits.</font>
<font face="Comic Sans MS" color=white size=3>As the dance was ended, the white‑painted god struck the massive wall of the cave with his wand and suddenly the rock divided to form the passageway to a new entrance. The spirits began to lead the blind man and the crippled man from the cave. As they stepped through the new entrance, the blind man and the crippled man were instantly healed. The blind man could see again and the crippled man was no longer lame. Moreover, each was clothed in the choicest buckskin clothing and carried the finest bows and arrows imaginable.</font>
<font face="Comic Sans MS" color=white size=3>The mountain spirits were gone but the healed men were no longer alone for in the distance an Indian village became visible. As they drew near the village, they realized the band was their own. They rejoined their families and joyously told them of the miracle that had been performed by the mountain spirits. They taught their people the spirit dance, just as the mountain spirits had done. For many generations hence, the Apaches have performed this Dance of the Mountain Spirits to drive away sickness and evil and bring good health and good fortune.</font>
</td></tr></table>
celebrates history, culture, legend of Mescaleros
<center><table border=0 align=center><tr><td><caption><font size=-1 face="Arial Narrow" color=#000000>Harvesting mescal to prepare for the roast. (Photo courtesy Friends of Living Desert Park.)</font></caption><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/livingdesert_mescalroast.jpg border=1 align=center vspace=5 hspace=5 alt="Harvesting mescal to prepare for the roast."></td></tr></table></center>
Carlsbad – Think Carlsbad is pretty far away from Ruidoso? Well, the Mescalero Apaches didn’t. The land around Carlsbad is a prime site for gathering mescal (also called agave and century plant) and over the centuries, they have come to the area to gather this important plant.
Similar in nutritional value to oats, the dried or roasted mescal and is easily stored over long periods. The staple food also is used in traditional ceremonials.
The Friends of the Living Desert Mescal Roast and Mountain Spirit Dances held at the Living Desert State Park each year are unusual, even for New Mexico.
They meld together history and legend with colorful costumes and the Mescalero Apache traditional Dance of the Mountain Spirits around a blazing bonfire. The purpose is to build a better understanding of the multi‑cultural history of New Mexico and demonstrate the importance of preserving and protecting the fragile Chihuahuan desert ecosystem.
There is no better way to demonstrate this and promote the concept of a "living desert", than by highlighting the native peoples who lived off the land in this harsh environment. They existed and prospered without the benefit of modern conveniences while respecting and preserving the delicate balance of plants and animals within their surroundings.
The Friends of Living Desert Mescal Roast is 23 years old this year. This event has increased steadily in popularity and today attracts visitors from not only New Mexico and nearby states, but from across the nation. The Mescal Roast has gone from a small, almost private, gathering to the premier example of a multi-cultural event offering traditional Native American ceremonies in the Southwest.
This year’s Mescal Roast and Mountain Spirit Dances will be held from Thursday, May 7 to Sunday, May 10, 2009 at the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, NM.
Tickets for the evening’s activities are $15.00 each and include the feast dinner, the Apache War Dance, and the Mountain Spirit Dances. Tickets are limited by the available seating and should be purchased in advance (300 per evening). Tickets are on sale at the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park (in person, by mail, or by phone).
For additional information or to purchase tickets call the Living Desert State Park at (575) 887-5516; FAX us at (575) 885-4478; write us at Living Desert State Park, 1504 Miehls Dr., Carlsbad, NM 88221.
<table cellpadding=5 bgcolor=gray><tr><td>
Mescalero Apache: The legend of the Mountain Spirits
<font face="Comic Sans MS" color=white size=3>As has been told to Apache youth for centuries, there were two young men, one was crippled and the other blind.</font>
<font face="Comic Sans MS" color=white size=3>Their band had been attacked and was fleeing from an enemy. So that they would not slow the flight of their tribesmen and jeopardize the safety of themselves and their families, they were hidden. The two handicapped men were placed in a secret mountain cave, the entrance of which was covered by a large boulder.</font>
<font face="Comic Sans MS" color=white size=3>Many days and nights they waited for their tribesmen return. Their food and water ran out, their bodies grew gaunt. They came to fear that they had been abandoned. They knew that death would claim them soon.</font>
<font face="Comic Sans MS" color=white size=3>Then, one night as they huddled in the quiet darkness of the cave, they heard strange and frightening sounds outside. The sounds got louder and louder. Suddenly the boulder was flung aside and five strange figures marched menacingly into the cave. Four were painted black with cryptic white symbols and wore mystical headgear. A fifth was painted white. These were the spirit guardians of the mountain or the mountain gods.</font>
<center><table border=0 align=center><tr><td><caption><font size=-1 face="Arial Narrow" color=#FFFFFF>A mysterious light illuminated the cave silhouetting the figures of the strange intruders. These luminous rays were amazingly transformed into a huge bonfire. </font></caption><img src=http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/MountainSpiritsDance.jpg border=1 align=center vspace=5 hspace=5 alt="A mysterious light illuminated the cave silhouetting the figures of the strange intruders."></td></tr></table></center>
<font face="Comic Sans MS" color=white size=3>A mysterious light illuminated the cave silhouetting the figures of the strange intruders. These luminous rays were amazingly transformed into a huge bonfire. Around the fire the spirits danced and chanted. As the figures brandished their wands against unseen enemies and called upon the forces of nature for power and healing, the dance of the Mountain Spirits was revealed.</font>
<font face="Comic Sans MS" color=white size=3>At first, the blind man and the crippled man cowered against the side of the cave, then grew more relaxed as the dancing continued until dawn. They sensed that these were, indeed, powerful spirits.</font>
<font face="Comic Sans MS" color=white size=3>As the dance was ended, the white‑painted god struck the massive wall of the cave with his wand and suddenly the rock divided to form the passageway to a new entrance. The spirits began to lead the blind man and the crippled man from the cave. As they stepped through the new entrance, the blind man and the crippled man were instantly healed. The blind man could see again and the crippled man was no longer lame. Moreover, each was clothed in the choicest buckskin clothing and carried the finest bows and arrows imaginable.</font>
<font face="Comic Sans MS" color=white size=3>The mountain spirits were gone but the healed men were no longer alone for in the distance an Indian village became visible. As they drew near the village, they realized the band was their own. They rejoined their families and joyously told them of the miracle that had been performed by the mountain spirits. They taught their people the spirit dance, just as the mountain spirits had done. For many generations hence, the Apaches have performed this Dance of the Mountain Spirits to drive away sickness and evil and bring good health and good fortune.</font>
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