Collecting oral histories is different than simply passing along stories. That's why the city of Las Vegas Museum and Rough Rider Museum is giving people from San Miguel to Santa Fe counties the opportunity to learn how to do it right in its upcoming Las Vegas Oral History Workshop on Friday.

Nellie Price, the museum educator, said the workshop will launch a long-term oral-history project, yet to be named. She's calling for volunteers to help with and be part of the project in their communities.

"The workshop will help give them the tools they need to collect oral histories from their communities," Price said. "We think it's really important to start storing oral history so the next generation can hear these stories and learn more about their culture and their traditions and their community from the oral history collection."

Price noted that oral history is important, especially in Northern New Mexico, pointing out the area's distinct language, culture and religion differs from that in other areas, even Southern New Mexico.

Eric Romero of New Mexico Highlands University will address this specific topic.

"Eric Romero has been doing oral histories for 25 years," Price said. "He'll talk about different ways to approach people from Northern New Mexico ... (and how to) be more familiar and build trust and rapport with the person you're collecting oral history from."

Other speakers will include Rose T. Diaz, president and senior historian of Origins and Legacies Historical Services; and photographer/photojournalist Jaelyn deMaria. Diaz will focus on the differences between storytelling and oral histories, while deMaria will discuss how to collect oral histories using digital video techniques.

Although there is space for only 20 participants, Price invites anybody interested to call her at 505-426-3204 and request a registration form. There is a $5 deposit (which will be refunded at the end of the workshop); application forms must be sent via mail to Price at 727 Grand Ave., Las Vegas, N.M., 87701.

Price is excited for the long-term project.

"The goal for us is to make it intergenerational, so we'll be working with our youth and talking to them not just about family, but about family trees and roots, and get them to interact with their family by collecting oral histories," Price said. She hopes to pick one topic a year; this year will address what it means to be in a military family or how a family member has served.

"People should contact us if they have an interest in collecting oral histories in their community," Price said. "We would love people to (attend) whether they're from here or from Santa Fe or in between."

Contact Ana Maria Trujillo at 986-3084 or atrujillo@sfnewmexican.com.