Interview No. 1822
Interviewer
Eloisa Arenas
Project
Stories from the Chamizal Library
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Summary of Interview
Martha Graciela Chavira (Graciela Orquiz) was born in 1952 at the Tigua Indian hospital in Ysleta, Texas, is the oldest of six sisters born to immigrant parents, Donaciano Chavira and Juana Payán. Her early life was defined by a transnational existence; while the family lived in Juárez, the sisters attended the Colegio Jesús y María, a private Catholic convent school in El Paso. Orquiz recalls a rigorous daily routine of crossing the border to attend school, where religious observance—including daily mass and confession—was central to her education. When the financial burden of private tuition for six daughters became too great, the family moved to an apartment in El Paso’s El Segundo Barrio to establish the residency required for public school enrollment.
Orquiz’s transition to public education involved attending El Paso Technical High School for three years before transferring to Bowie High School, where she graduated. She describes the cultural and linguistic challenges of the era, particularly the strict prohibition of Spanish in schools; students caught speaking Spanish were often forced to write "I must not speak Spanish" as punishment. This environment contributed to the development of a "pocho" identity—a blend of English and Spanish that Orquiz views as a unique and wonderful linguistic phenomenon of the border. She highlights her parents' tireless work ethic as the foundation of her family's progress: her father worked for the Sigler Cattle Company near the old Bowie campus, while her mother worked at Taco House, downtown El Paso's first buffet, and later at a New Mexico packing plant.
Reflecting on the historical milestones of her youth, Orquiz vividly remembers the profound impact of the JFK assassination in 1963. She recalls the fear caused by the sudden closure of the international bridges and the confusion of being separated from her home in Juárez during the aftermath. She also recounts the displacement of families during the Chamizal land return, noting how friends of her parents were forced to leave their homes as the government demolished neighborhoods to reshape the border. Despite initial challenges in pursuing higher education due to a lack of parental encouragement, Orquiz later earned an associate degree as an adult. She concludes her reflections by urging today's youth to "eat the world in one bite" by fully embracing their education and the opportunities available to them.
This interview is related to the interviews with Alma Najera and Sylvia Torresdey, as they are sisters
Date of Interview
3-27-2026
Length of Interview
43 minutes
Interview Number
1822
Terms of Use
Unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Interview with Martha Graciela Orquiz by Eloisa Arenas, 2026, "Interview No. 1822," Institute of Oral History, University of Texas at El Paso.