A daylong workshop in Española on Saturday will trace what organizers describe as the long history of prejudice behind the loss of New Mexico land grants.

Land grant historians, authors, attorneys and activists will discuss the links among the Black Legend of the 16th century, the Santa Fe Ring of the 1800s and a 2001 federal report on the U.S. government's handling of land grants.

During the colonial period, the Spanish government divided up much of New Mexico's land and granted pieces to families and homesteaders. Existing pueblos were guaranteed grants of historic lands.

Those grants were recognized again when Mexico controlled the territory, and were specifically protected under the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo when Mexico ceded control to the U.S. government. Land grant heirs and activists believe the grants were co-opted and outright stolen through the next several decades by government surveyors, attorneys and land speculators.

Forum organizers say the root of the theft dates to before Columbus sailed to the "New World."

The Black Legend refers to anti-Spanish literature first put out by Protestants opposed to Spanish rule and the Catholic Church in the 1500s, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. Literature of the time called the Spanish "intolerant," "fanatical" and "cruel."

"It is my belief, personal and professional, that many of the problems we have encountered go back to the legend, go back to the attitude toward Spain," said Henry J. Casso, president of Project Uplift and one of the forum organizers.

"The Black Legend remained particularly strong in the United States throughout the 19th century," according to the Britannica. "It was kept alive by the Mexican War of 1846 and the subsequent need to deal with a Spanish-speaking but mixed-race population within its borders. The legend reached its peak during the Spanish-American War of 1898."

At the forum, Robert Hemmerich y Valencia will discuss Phillip Wayne Powell's book, The Tree of Hate: Propaganda and Prejudices Affecting United States Relations with the Hispanic World, recently republished by the University of New Mexico Press.

Author Rubén Sálaz Márquez will discuss his latest book, The Santa Fe Ring and New Mexico Land Grants. The Santa Fe Ring refers to a powerful group of attorneys and land speculators who were accused of defrauding Hispanic families of land grants.

Staff from the New Mexico Attorney General's Office will discuss the report from the U.S. General Accounting Office and the state's latest efforts to redress land grant issues.

Contact Staci Matlock at 986-3055 or smatlock@sfnewmexican.com.

IF YOU GO

What: Española Hispanic Historical Forum

When: 12:45 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Misión Museum y Convento, 1 Calle de las Españolas

Who: Northern New Mexico College and the city of Española

Cost: Free