Centeotzintli: Sacred Maiz – 7,000-year Ceremonial Discourse

March 31 - May 9, 2008
Maíz Culture Exhibit
Preserved by elders and the oral tradition, the story of maize is told through the Ants of Quetzalcoatl (Legend of the Suns)  and through the Popul Vuh – the sacred book of the Maya – and in many more stories as told by maiz-based  peoples from throughout the continent. This exhibit contains pre-Colomnbian codices, chronicles from the 1500s-1800s and artifacts that link ancient maiz cultures of the south with the culture of peoples from Mexico and Central America that live in the United States today. Part of the exhibit explores how different peoples relate to maiz today – including peoples commonly referred to as mestizos or “de-Indigenized” peoples. The exhibit also examines maiz imagery found in popular culture today.

Mesoamerica in North America Map Exhibit
This map exhibit showcases historic maps from the 1500s-1800s that point to a Mesoamerican presence in what is today the United States. Whereas some 200 maps have been located with such citations, the the researchers do not ascertain the accuracy of the information on the maps. Instead, the exhibit simply brings to light these maps from the 1500s through the 1800s, including the 1847 Disturnell Map – the map that is attached to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. It is this treaty that ended the Mexican American War in 1848, with Mexico cedeing at least half of its territory. Minimally, these maps may constitute a source or “memory” regarding the long-held belief by Mexican Americans – as related in pre-Colombian codices and the Mexican flag – that the origin of the Mexica was somewhere in the north. The maps actually appear to point to a series of migrations covering not simply the 1,000-year Mexica migration story (Aztlan), but also to other and older migrations by other Indigenous peoples from the south. Whether the maps are accurate is secondary to the idea that ancient migration stories are recorded on these maps.

Centeotzintli: A Sacred Maíz Narrative Symposium
The basis for the symposium is the concept of Centeotzintli, which translates into: sacred maiz… or okichike ka centeotzintli, which means: made from sacred maiz. This is related to the idea that peoples of Mexican/Central American heritage are the “people of [sacred] corn’ – gente de maiz sagrado. This symposium links this idea not simply to a common past, but more importantly, it affirms that Mexicans and Central Americans, and all peoples from maiz-based cultures are part of live cultures – cultures that have been here on this continent for many thousands of years. It is also a reminder that maiz, which is linked to water and earth, connects us all to a common human identity and a common struggle to protect the earth and its natural resources. The symposium will feature the work of Dr. Yolanda Broyles, MASRC, Maestra Angelbertha Cobb; Roberto Dr. Cintli Rodriguez, MASRC; and Zotero Amavizca. They will examine other aspects of Indigenous cultures that are present within these communities.

Documentary: Amoxtli San Ce Tojuan – We Are One
The stories in Amoxtli San Ce Tojuan reveal living connections between the Uto-Nahuatl peoples of the continent (ranging from Canada to Central America). Beyond that, it is an inspiring story of origins & migrations and ancient connections and relationships of all the indigenous peoples of the continent. It is also a story that places maiz and the Ants of Quetzalcoatl at the center of this epic story.

History told through our breath, told in English, Nahuatl, and Spanish. The documentary features the words of indigenous scholars and traditional elders from throughout the Americas, including Nahuatl educators Maestra Angelberta Cobb & Paula Domingo – who will be present. It also includes Dolores Huerta, Jack Forbes, LaDonna Harris, Ted Jojola, Yolanda Broyles-Gonzalez and Luis Leal. It also features the music of: Grammy Award nominee, Joanne Shenandoah, Aztlan Underground, Leilani Finau, El Vuh, Michael Heralda, Martin Espino and Irma Rangel.

The documentary carries a collective copyright in the name of all those who are part of the documentary – in recognition that the knowledge is collective and thousands of years old. It was produced & directed by scholars Roberto Dr. Cintli Rodriguez & Dr. Patrisia Gonzales, professors/researchers at Mexican American Studies & Research Center at the University of Arizona.

Researchers
The research for these events was coordinated by Roberto Dr. Cintli Rodriguez and Dr. Patrisia Gonzales, plus graduate students, Zotero Amavizca, Marisol Badilla, Norma Ballesteros, Dina Barajas, Jill Calderon, Dominique Calza, Maria Gonzalez, Jesse Johnson, Libia Luevano, Shiras Manning & Jessica Campos.