Photos 1 and 2. CBDIO Staff and Panelists. Photo: Miguel Zafra.
Photo 3. Rufino Domínguez, CBDIO Executive Director and PhD. Bonnie Bade.Photo: Bertha Rodríguez.
Photo 4. PhD. Gaspar Rivera Salgado. Photo: Bertha Rodriguez.
Photo 5. Service Providers. Photo: Miguel Zafra.
Photo 6. Doctor Edilberto Hernández. Photo: Bertha Rodriguez.
Photo 7. Indigenous Advocates Irma Luna, Bernardina Hernández and Odilia Romero. Photo: Miguel Zafra.
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Fresno, CA.- Indigenous identity, culture and migration are the main topics of a series of presentations about the indigenous peoples that the Binational Center for the Development of Oaxacan Indigenous Communities (CBDIO) has organized as part of the worldwide celebrations of the Indigenous Peoples Day.
As a tribute to the indigenous communities for their struggle to survive and preserve their cultures despite the diverse historical challenges and the migration phenomenon, the CBDIO will start the celebrations with the Indigenous Day Conference on October 13, in the city of Fresno.
This conference will address the themes of “Indigenous Migration: Historic Perspective and Social Activism” presented by Ph.D. Gaspar Rivera, Dr. Laura Velasco and Ph.D. Jaime García Leyva; Bonnie Bade and Dr. Edilberto Hernández will explain the Mixtec and Triqui approaches to traditional healing, activists Irma Luna (Mixtec), Odilia Romero (Zapotec) and Bernardina Hernández (Triqui) will share their life experiences as indigenous migrants in the US.
The event will include the screening of “2501 Migrants. A journey”, a documentary by Chatina filmmaker Yolanda Cruz, who shows artist Alejandro Santiago and his project to repopulate his community Teococuilco with clay figures representing all the inhabitants who migrated to the United States. Pictures by Mixtec photographer Miguel Zafra, will also be exhibited. The event will also feature delicious traditional Oaxacan food, music and handcrafts.
This conference is aim to the public service providers who work at clinics, hospitals, and other social services offices where the indigenous people seek assistance. In many cases, the workers of public agencies and institutions are not aware of the diversity of languages and cultures of the indigenous peoples, so the indigenous population face different barriers accessing services. With this event, CBDIO wants to provide information about the indigenous population living in the Central Valley.
Given the significance of the Indigenous Day and because the importance of the issues addressed, CBDIO will also present the tour called “Film and Indigenous Identity”. The documentary “2501 Migrants. A journey” will be screened in the cities of Petaluma, Hollister, Greenfield and Santa Maria. As part of the presentation, doctor Edilberto Hernandez will also speak about the indigenous identity.
Calendar of events:
Indigenous Day Conference
October 13
From 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
First Congregational Church
2131 Van Ness Blvd.
Fresno, CA 93704
For more information:
(559) 499-1178
Film and Indigenous Identity
(Tour in 4 cities)
October 14
From 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Saint Vincent De Paul Church
35 Liberty Street
PETALUMA, CA 94952
For more information: (707) 537- 5670
(707) 769-8249
October 15
From 6:00 a 8:00 PM
881 Line Street
HOLLISTER, CA 95023
(At the Gym)
For more information:
(831) 537-4834
(831) 537-4824
October 16
From 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Trinidad Catholic Church
27 S. El Camino Real
Greenfield , CA 93927
For more information:
(831) 674 52 13
October 17
From 6:00 TO 8:00 PM
Santa María Public Library
421 S. McClelland Street
Santa María, CA
For more information:
(805) 925-5262
By Bertha Rodríguez
Photos: Chris Schneider
Fresno, CA.- On behalf of the indigenous immigrant communities in California, the Binational Center for the Development of Oaxacan Indigenous Communities (CBDIO) and the Binational Front of Indigenous Organizations (FIOB), are honored to announce the XI edition of La Guelaguetza 2009, that will take place on September 27, 2009.
La Guelaguetza is the most traditional and well-known festival in Oaxaca, Mexico, and for many years it has also been celebrated by Oaxacan immigrants in California, in cities such as Los Angeles, Fresno, San Diego, San Marcos, Santa Cruz, Santa Maria and Oxnard, among other places where there is significant presence of Oaxacan immigrants.
This popular festivity has its origins in Pre-Columbian times when our ancestors from the 8 regions of Oaxaca got together to give offerings to the goddess of rain, nature, corn and fertility, Bidoo Cozobi or Centéotl to thank her for the rich harvests. The word Guelaguetza comes from the Zapotec Guenda-Lizaa, which means “friendship”, “sharing” and “helping each other”.
In ancient times, the indigenous peoples would gather at la Guelaguetza to honor their deity offering her flowers, fruits or any kind of produce from their regions. Through la Guelaguetza they used to reassert their cultural identity since members of the communities would share their traditional dances, music, food, drinks or products made with their hands to nourish the participants.
Since 1945, this festival has been celebrated in Oaxaca City the last two Mondays of July. Through time, the government of Oaxaca, transformed this genuine celebration into a commercial show for tourists. However, since 2006, the Popular Assembly of Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO) started a Guelaguetza Popular that is admission-free and any person can participate in it.
In California, la Guelaguetza started by the Oaxacan immigrant community. The first Guelaguetza was organized by the Organización Regional Oaxaqueña (ORO), in Los Angeles in 1988 and in Fresno, it has been celebrated by CBDIO-FIOB since 1999.
This year in Fresno, la Guelaguetza will take place at the
People will be able to enjoy the performances of Ballet Folclórico Nueva Antequera, Ballet Folclórico Pochtlán, and Yatzachi El Bajo band. There will be delicious traditional Oaxacan Food and handicrafts sale. Donation: $ 8:00 before the event, $10.00 at the door and free admission for children under 12. For more information call (559) 499-1178.
To see more pictures of past Guelaguetzas click here
Imágenes por Chris Schneider