Spotlight
Larrañaga
teaches culture to youth
By Matthew
Bollinger
Juan
Fidel Larrañaga is doing all he can to reach out to New
Mexico youth promoting heritage, culture and community.
At UNM,
Larrañaga provides computer support for UNMs Ibero
American Science and Technology Education Consortium,
a non-profit organization established to foster scientific,
engineering and technological education throughout the Americas
and Iberian Peninsula.
Larrañaga
advocates for education beyond the classroom, especially as
it relates to language and culture. Promoting culture
is important to me because I see loss of Indo-Hispano culture
due to assimilation, he says.
He has
volunteered with organizations such as Mijas Spanish Camp, Big
Brother/Sister and AGIF Youth for Youth tutoring program.
I
do not see enough programs to entice youth to participate in
learning culture, he says. Some day I pray there
will be a summer program where youth can learn from their elders
the culture of Indo-Hispano New Mexico. I want them to learn
the language and how to cook traditional food. I want them to
learn the importance of the land and to spend time with and
appreciate the elders of New Mexico. I do not want traditional
New Mexico to die with my grandparents generation.
Larrañaga
attended Albuquerque High School graduating third in his class
in 1991 while an active member of MESA. He received a BA in
mathematics from Occidental College, Los Angeles, in 1995. While
a college sophomore, he attended a Spanish language immersion
program in Mexico. I encourage all students to make an
effort to go on an abroad program, he says.
On select
holidays, he visits family from his mother's side in Encino,
N.M., where his grandparents are buried.
My
interest in learning the Spanish language came from my grandfather,
Juan Abel Larrañaga. He knew limited English. I wished
to communicate with him the best I could and learn from him
before he passed away.
Larrañaga
is proud to be starting a family of his own. He is married with
a one-year-old son.