Compiled by JUAN ESPINOSA
As Colorado celebrates 149 years of statehood this month, it is important to remember Casimiro Barela, perhaps the most influential Chicano in the state’s early history.
Barela is credited with being one of the principal authors of the Colorado Constitution, more importantly, saw to it that the document was published in three languages — English, Spanish and German.
Born in the small village of Embudo in what is now New Mexico, but was Mexico in 1847, Barela witnessed the racist hostilities encountered by Chicanos and Indios after the subjugation of Nuevo Mexico after 1948.
In his fight to have the Colorado constitution written in three languages, Barela paraphrased a popular notion that “ignorance of the law does not excuse the breaking of it. I say it is the only excuse,” he said.
What he meant was that Chicanos living in what was once part of Mexico needed to be able to read the constitution and laws of Colorado in their native language, if they are expected to comply.
When the question of what citizens would be allowed to vote he challenged the movement to require schooling and language criteria. “No citizen of the state can be deprived of suffrage due to reason or cause of insufficient education or due to inability of individuals to speak the English language,” he said.
He argued that if speaking English was required, 25 years be allowed to before that law would apply. He wanted to give time for the younger generation to receive an education and learn English. The resolution passed, but was amended to allow Spanish-speakers only 15 years to learn English.
Barela served 40 years in the Colorado Senate and continued to advocate for and protect the rights of Chicanos in southern Colorado. He sought to establish schools where Chicanos would not only learn English, but at the same time, would be able to conserve, cultivate their own language, culture and identity. His concept was too advanced and unfortunately his education project was not implemented.
He was also outspoken on the issue of protecting the Spanish and Mexican land grants in Colorado. He claimed that the state government was negligent in protecting Chicano lands and was responsible for loss of land. A 1891 a land court was established to protect against the loss of land, but it came too late — Chicanos in Colorado had already lost valuable land.
From his seat in the Colorado Senate, Barela argued for admittance of New Mexico for statehood. He raised the issue of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (the treaty that ended the Mexican American War and resulted in half of Mexico becoming U.S. territory) not being enforced. He said native Nuevo Mexicanos were being exploited, and their lands were being systematically encroached upon.” Mexico did not become a state for another two decades.