Blog: Upholding New Mexico’s Multilingual Tradition by Translating the New Mexico Game and Fish Department’s Hunting Rules and Information Booklet in Spanish
New Mexico has always been a culturally diverse, multilingual state, and in 1911, after Mexico had ceded the state to the U.S., a provision was included in the New Mexico Constitution calling for all laws to be published in Spanish and English. Additionally, the state’s Constitution specified that no citizen would be restricted or denied the right to vote, to hold office or serve on juries, or to go to public school if they were not able to speak, read or write English or Spanish. Public school teachers were also to be trained to be bilingual.
Today, as the state with the highest per capita population of Hispanic residents and with the greatest percentage of Spanish speakers, translation of key documents rightly contributes to the state’s equity, fairness, and inclusivity. This should continue to be the dominant norm of our social fabric.
And so, we express our gratitude to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) for publishing the Hunting Rules and Information Booklet in Spanish, allowing for increased and more equitable participation in hunting and fishing, and accommodating Hispanic New Mexicans to continue to practice a centuries-old tradition that puts food on the table.
New Mexico has a rich hunting and angling heritage that connects community members to nature and the outdoors. For generations, Hispanic families have relied on wildlife as a sustainable source of food, and hunting and angling are cultural traditions that fortify our relationship with the land. Translating the official rules and regulations booklet levels the playing field for community members who are interested in applying for big game draw hunts while helping to mitigate misinterpretation of the rules on and off the field.
New Mexico’s hunting and fishing regulations can be complicated to understand for many, and translating them to Spanish helps clarify complex regulations that community members are often cited for. This change is reflective of our community, and our community’s need. Translating these rules and regulations is a win-win for all New Mexicans.
HECHO Advisory Board Member Kent Salazar and HECHO New Mexico Senior Field Coordinator Max Trujillo participated in the review process, and will continue to work with the Department of Game and Fish to ensure comprehensive Spanish translations of all rules publications. We look forward to continuing our contributions to this effort as well as advocating for the advancement of Hispanics in conservation, and express our sincere gratitude to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.