The Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance is planning to celebrate its first birthday on April 5.

Held at the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center from 3-6 p.m., the birthday bash features a lecture on the life of a Dominguez-Escalante expedition cartographer along with a silent auction of items highlighting life in Southwest Colorado.

At the event, retired University of New Mexico professor John Kessell will explore the life of cartographer Bernardo de Miera y Pacheco (1713-1785). Miera y Pacheco’s maps and religious art have long been considered essential to the cultural history of colonial New Mexico.

“Anyone with an interest in southwestern history, colonial New Mexico or New Spain will welcome this study of Miera y Pacheco’s eventful life and times,” said organizer Diane McBride.

Copies of Kessell’s book, Miera Y Pacheco: A Renaissance Spaniard in Eighteenth-Century New Mexico will be available for sale and signing by the author at the celebration.

Founded in 2013, the Southwest Colorado Canyons Alliance is made up of local citizens concerned about the future of public lands. Due to limited federal funding and resources, the group advocates for alternative financial aid and volunteer support to care for the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and its headquarters at the Anasazi Heritage Center in Dolores.

To help support the cause, a silent auction is also planned at the birthday bash. Up for grabs are guided archaeological hikes, a hand-carved and painted hiking stick, replica ancestral pueblo pottery, landscape photographs, jewelry, baskets and packs from Osprey. Only cash or checks will be accepted.

Tax-deductible donations to the Southwest-themed silent auction are also welcome by calling Diane McBride at (970) 560-1643.

Organizers ask guests to RSVP by Tuesday, April 1, by calling (970) 882-5628.

tbaker@cortezjournal.com