Durango Native Stories

Durango Native received LATC funding to cover the costs of recording, editing, producing, publishing, and distributing ten new episodes of Durango Native Stories. All funding was spent locally for supplies, photo scanning, video production, editing, publishing, distribution, and transportation to the recording site. The stories are video recordings of multi-generational and pioneer local families sharing historic photographs and recollections of their family history, especially day-to-day life.

Durango Native stories are stories as recalled by multi-generational and pioneer local families, not an academic program documenting historical facts and timelines. They feature the patriarch or matriarch of the family and always include additional family members for story details and prompting answers from elder storytellers. The youngest featured storyteller was 80, and the oldest was 95 when recorded. The stories are similar to going through a family album and discussing generations of memories, including family members who have passed away. The stories by Peryl Schaff and the Martinez brothers are perfect examples (and these storytellers have all passed away since recording). The photos discussed are all scanned and inserted into the video recording. A copy of the final recordings is for the public domain and is provided to Animas Museum, FLC Center of SW Studies, the family, and posted online at DurangoNative.com. We welcome everyone to copy and share the stories to as many people as possible.

JACK TURNER is the founder of the Durango Native programs.  The stories, guide service, and historic presentations are the result of six generations (more than 150 years) of family, friends, and community in the beautiful Animas Valley of southwest Colorado.  In fact, it pre-dates the official founding of Durango in 1880.