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Third Thursday Food for Thought presents ““Whiskey is for Drinking, Water is for Fighting Over: Spain’s Impact on Law and Natural Resources in the American West”
April 18, 2019 @ 6:00 am - 8:30 pm
Old Pueblo Archaeology Center’s “Third Thursday Food for Thought” dinner will feature the presentation “Whiskey is for Drinking, Water is for Fighting Over: Spain’s Impact on Law and Natural Resources in the American West” by historian Dr. Michael M. Brescia at a Tucson-area restaurant to be announced. This free presentation will be held from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. (Order your own dinner off of the restaurant’s menu at your expense).
We tend to think that Spain’s historical influence in Arizona and the greater Southwest is confined to language and religion, but its impact on law and agrarian practices tells us the fascinating story of water and the rhythms of daily life. Despite the 164 years that have passed since Arizona and southwestern New Mexico entered the United States (and 170 years for other places like California and northern New Mexico), American Indians and the Hispanic descendants of the first Spanish conquistadors continue to call upon old Spanish law to defend their rights to natural resources. Dr. Brescia examines how the Spanish empire defined property and natural resources during the colonial period, the reasons why Spanish water rights are taken into consideration by the U.S. judicial system today, and the inevitable clash that has taken place between two legal systems — American common law and Hispanic civil law – in the adjudication of water disputes in the Southwest.
Reservations must be requested AND CONFIRMED before 5 p.m. on the Wednesday before the program date: info@oldpueblo.org or 520-798-1201. PLEASE WAIT TO HEAR FROM OLD PUEBLO WHETHER YOUR RESERVATION HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BEFORE ATTENDING because the Fire Code limits how many guests we can have in the restaurant meeting room. Guests may select and purchase their own dinners from the restaurant’s menu. There is no entry fee but donations will be requested to benefit Old Pueblo’s educational efforts.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO EMAIL YOU A FLYER with color photos about the above-listed activity send an email to info@oldpueblo.org with “Send April 18 Third Thursday flyer” in your email subject line.