06 Jun Getting to Know the Everglades

My name is Norma Hartell. My family migrated from Mexico to the United States when I was six years old. We settled in Las Cruces, New Mexico, the place I now call home. The city of Las Cruces is full of culture, and plenty of natural beauty. Due to its vast skies, grandiose Organ Mountains, flowing Rio Grande, and colorful landscape, it was inevitable for me to become an artist. I love hiking, exploring, and experiencing local life. Those three aspects not only inspire my artwork but inspire me personally. For the majority of my life, I have been living in Las Cruces, New Mexico. I graduated with a Bachelors in Fine Arts from New Mexico State University, and recently received my Masters in Anthropology from the same university. The Latino Heritage Internship Program has provided me the opportunity to experience a different culture and natural landscape. As soon as I arrived in the Everglades, I went and experienced everything I could. I went on an airboat ride in the Shark River Slough, I went on a Tram Trail in Shark Valley, I visited the Robertson Building, and the Daniel Beard Complex, which are several of the buildings where I will be working at for the internship. I even went and explored the Florida Keys. One thing I noticed about the everglades, is the panoramic grassy, wet lands. At first glance the everglades seem uninteresting, but as soon as you start exploring, you realize how much life this land has. The first couple of days I was able to see alligators, softshell turtle, Egret, blue heron, Louisiana heron, a tree snail, white tailed deer, plenty of beautiful flowers, and more. Now, that I have experienced some of the natural life of the everglades, I can’t wait to start working at the Cultural Resource Division for the Everglades National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park. I will be researching historical images, digitizing them, and making them accessible to the public. Hasta Luego! norma