Profundo Heritatge Archive: An Interview with Harry Vasile
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Nuevo Mexico Profundo started on an oral biography/heritage archive project last year, and completed forty plus interviews, conducted by Frank Graziano. The folks recorded cover a cross-section of experience in New Mexico. Frank is ready to begin phase two of the project in April, 2021, interviewing and capturing the history of more New Mexicans over the course of this year.
We present today a fascinating interview with Harry Vasile at the Mescalero Apache Reservation in New Mexico. Harry, as you will discover, was instrumental in restoring the magnificent St. Joseph Apache Mission church at Mescalero. (This is the location of the Apache Christ altar painted by Robert Lentz, screen, a stunning depiction of Christ as an Apache shaman on the fourth day of the puberty ceremony.) He also worked with kids as a coach and counselor at the rehabilitation center, and instituted a job-skill training program by hiring young at-risk workers for the restoration project. “Historic restoration as self-restoration”, to quote Frank Graziano from his book Historic Churches of New Mexico Today.
We hope you enjoy listening to Harry tell his life story.