203 W. Holly, Ste. 317, Bellingham, WA 98225 Winter 2013

Raíces Culturales Healthy Communities, Social Justice, & Dignity for oneself, others and the environment.

Vol. 1, No. 2, March 1, 2013

Ameyaltonal One of our latest youth initiated programs with Raíces Culturales is C2C’s partnering with Ameyaltonal an Aztec Danza group from Skagit County in order to form a youth danzante auxillary in Bellingham.

Danza Azteca and Mexicayotl are cultural practices that have survived from pre-colombian times and have evolved over time to be what it is today. Together they represent what Bonfil Batalla once called “Mexico Profundo” or the deep roots of Mexican indigeneity. With the tradition kept alive through the oral tradition and cargo system of la palabra, Ameyaltonal is the only group in the Pacific Northwest that holds the flag from the elders in Mexico at the moment. This transnational relationship is kept alive by its leaders Enrique Lopez and Marco Morales who have also partnered with local indigenous elders to maintain a respect for the region and the traditions they have been entrusted with.

Raíces Culturales youth are all called to the beat of the Huehuetl, the grandfather drum that keeps the beat of a living culture.

Community to Community looks for ways to build relationships with local indigenous communities like participating in the anti-globalization movement and supporting the local Lummi community in solidarity with Idle No More.

Locally C2C has joined the Lummi Nation in opposition to the Gateway Pacific Terminal being proposed to be built at Cherry Point.

Upcoming Events Spring 2013 Wednesdays

Fridays

Twice a Month Alternating

Fridays

Once a Month Monday

Raíces Culturales 4:30-6:00pm - Saint James Presbyterian 5:00-7:00pm - Unitarian Fellowship

Ameyaltonal

with Enrique and Marcos - Unitarian Fellowship Young Women’s Support Group

IDLE NO MORE SOLIDARITY

Raíces Culturales

Volume 1, Number 2

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Celebración de La Rama

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BELLINGHAM, WA – In

December 2012 the C2C membership and Raíces Culturales

celebrated Las Posadas at Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship

and was able to celebrate the

Veracruz tradition of La Rama with volunteers from the Seattle Fandango Project.

Since the summer of 2012 Raíces Culturales youth have been participating in workshops with groups and master musicians from

This winter, Raíces Culturales youth joined with members of the Seattle Fandango Project to celebrate La Rama.

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Veracruz including the grammy

nominated Los Cojolites, Son Altepee, and Annahi Hernandez (See Fall 2012 issue). At these workshops Raíces Culturales Youth have been learning the basics of Son Jarocho and the History of Veracruz and the cultural practice of the Fandango, a community celebration.

La Rama is a Christmas-time tradition in Veracruz, Mexico that

takes place during Las Posadas, between December 16 and 24. In

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this tradition a tree branch is decorated like a Christmas tree with orange lanterns, tinsel and paper ornaments. Instead of being stationary, the branch is carried like a flag and taken on a procession, re-enacting the bible story of Mary and Joseph seeking hospitality before the birth of Jesus. The youth joined this convivial celebration by accompanying with traditional music including the songs of Las Limas and El Viejo.

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In the Fall of 2012 Community to Community Development became a sponsor of the young women on the Lynden High School Wrestling team. Not only did they make a championship appearance, but these young women have continued to work with Community to Community during special events. In an effort to continue our support

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of young women in the area, the Raíces Culturales and Cocinas Sanas teams have joined forces to offer a Young Women’s Support Group that meets once a month at the First Congregational Church in Bellingham.

The Young Women’s Support Group is designed as a safe space for young women to address the

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topics of health, wellness, and cultural determination with the support of our female leadership and

promotoras de salud. To find out about the next meeting contact: Cocinassanas2@questoffice.net

Young Women’s Support Group

Raíces Culturales

Volume 1, Number 2

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BELLINGHAM, WA – Raíces

Culturales has really taken off

thanks to the financial, institutional and manual support of our generous sponsors and volunteers. Community to Community has entered into partnerships with the local faith community and we have

been able to hold much of the Empowerment Programming at the

Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship,

Saint James Presbyterian Church,

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and the First Congregational

Church and many individuals. Our

community partnerships with the Bellingham Community Food

Coop and the Whatcom Museum

have also allowed for C2C to host

special events like Dia de Los Muertos, Una Comunidad de Diversion at the Lightcatcher Museum and

learning about the food system on location at the Cordata and Forest stores. Volunteers from the Seattle Fandango Project and from

Empowerment Curriculum

Students who participate in workshops will learn the following:

1. CULTURAL ARTS 2. RELEVANT HISTORY 3. FOOD SOVEREIGNTY 4. HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

have really made a difference in allowing the Raíces Culturales to flourish, their volunteer labor of love has allowed us to develop a pre-K youth group we have called

Semillas, and for new initiatives like

Ameyaltonal, Karate, and Son Jarocho and the Young Women’s

support group to really take off. Thank you for your Support!

Raíces Culturales

Volume 1, Number 2

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March 17, 2013– Community to Community has made it a tradition to join in Bellingham’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in solidarity with the San Patricios Batallion who joined Mexico’s struggle against U.S. Imperial expansion in the US-Mexico War in the 19th century. The San Patricios were a rag tag battalion of hundreds of Irish soldiers, immigrants, and escaped southern US slaves and freemen who defected from the United States and joined Mexico’s

Army. The brave battalion fought

for the sovereignty of a newly independent Mexico and lost their lives at the exact moment of the surrender of over half of Mexico’s territory to the US via the Treaty of

Guadalupe Hidalgo.

Community  to  Community  Development  203  W.  Holly,  Ste.  317  Bellingham,  WA  98225  

 (360)  756-­‐2330  

 http://foodjustice.org  

www.facebook.com/Community2Community  www.facebook.com/c2caguiladelnorte  

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

November 3, 2012 – This year C2C partnered with Whatcom Museum and The Temple Bar to put on the second annual Dia De Los Muertos procession and celebration at the Lightcatcher building in Bellingham. The procession was met by Ameyaltonal who blessed the entire procession before entering the Lightcatcher museum where community altars were honored with Danza by Ameyaltonal, a Fandango with volunteers from the Seattle Fandango Project, pan de muerto and hot chocolate and activities for the youth who came. Our altar honored our ancestors and movement heroes who have given their lives for justice.