Mexico-North Research Network Inc

2-the betty j meggers program (bjm) niman axkan (right now in nhuatl) on august 10th, the concert "niman axkan" was presented at the palace of fine arts, in mxico city. A tribute concert to the contemporary music of indigenous peoples. Initiated in 2022 by felipe prez santiago and mnrn) as part of the eu's coling project, the event aimed to showcase the evolution of indigenous music in mexico. The concert highlighted contemporary music created and performed by young people from indigenous communities, featuring genres such as hip-hop, progressive rock, death metal, jazz, and chamber music in indigenous languages. Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/c-l0ouau3rg/? Utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=mzrlodbinwflza== participants: 2,500 writing workshop in tu'un savi by izaira lpez sanchez the tu'un savi writing workshop, which began on september 2 in the nunuma municipal agency, tlaxiaco, oaxaca, gathered 45 participants of all ages, creating a space for intergenerational exchange and learning. Under the guidance of izaira lpez snchez, the workshop kicked off with the activity "niku ja kunu? Who are you?", where participants introduced themselves in tu'un savi. This initial exercise served as a way to assess the language proficiency of each participant, enabling the workshop to adapt its approach, especially for children who do not speak the language. The workshop's outcomes include fostering a sense of cultural identity, promoting the use and revitalization of tu'un savi among the younger generation, and encouraging creative expression through the written word. Additionally, the event strengthened the participants' connection to their indigenous roots while providing a supportive environment for linguistic and cultural learning. Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/dacvzvbuuph/? Utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=mzrlodbinwflza== participants: 50 thematic panel revitalizacao do multilinguismo indgena the thematic panel "revitalization of indigenous multilingualism," held on november 5, 2024, at the reitoria campus of ufpr (universidade federal do paran) in brazil, brought together leading scholars to explore strategies for the preservation and promotion of indigenous languages. Esteemed speakers included jos antonio flores farfn from ciesas, who shared his expertise in linguistics and indigenous cultural heritage; jos borges neto from unioeste, who focused on linguistic education; and gustavo de godoy e silva from ufpr, who discussed his research on the ka'apor, mby, and guat peoples. Moderated by edilene coffaci de lima, the panel delved into challenges and solutions for fostering multilingualism, emphasizing its role in sustaining cultural diversity. Organized by henry vallejo infante, this event provided a platform for exchanging innovative ideas and methodologies, fostering collaboration among linguists, anthropologists, and cultural advocates. It highlighted the importance of indigenous languages as living, evolving facets of cultural identity and underscored the need for collective efforts in their revitalization. Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/dbsaqbhsazh/?igsh=am0zntdyaddnognx participants:150 workshop: for the production of materials in indigenous and minoritized languages on november 13 at the federal university of santa catarina, brazil took place the workshop taller para la produo de materiais em lnguas originrias e minoritrias (workshop for the production of materials in indigenous and minoritized languages), the workshop was part of the ii seminrio internacional do instituto mercosul de estudos avanados and took place at the auditrio martina jardim in the universitrio da unila (federal university of latin american integration). Coordinated by dr. Isis berger (unioeste) and dr. Mrio ramo (unila), the workshop focused on discussing and developing strategies for creating educational and cultural materials in indigenous and minoritized languages. It aimed to address the challenges and opportunities involved in preserving and revitalizing these languages through modern pedagogical tools, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among scholars and activists in the field. Through this initiative, participants explored ways to make these languages more accessible and relevant in contemporary education and media, encouraging social inclusion and strengthening cultural identity among indigenous and marginalized communities. Participants: 150 visit to the teko nemoingo state indigenous school, ava-guarani ethnic group | tekoha ocoy indigenous village in so miguel do iguau the visit to the teko nemoingo state indigenous school, located in the tekoha ocoy indigenous village and home to the ava-guarani ethnic group, fostered meaningful intercultural engagement and knowledge exchange. Participants documented educational practices and cultural traditions shared by the community, creating a photographic archive of interactions with students, educators, and significant cultural elements of the village. The visit facilitated dialogue with local teachers and leaders about the challenges of preserving ava-guarani language and culture, providing insights into their strategies for maintaining cultural identity through education. This experience strengthened connections between academic representatives and the indigenous community, raising awareness about the vital role of indigenous knowledge in education and advocacy. It also inspired discussions on integrating this knowledge into broader frameworks, further promoting the sustainability of indigenous heritage and rights. Participants: 150 mnrn celebrates international mother language day. Inauguration of exhibitions: quetzaltenango and mexico, sister nations. On december 9, 2024, a series of exhibitions were inaugurated at casa noj and the casa de la cultura in quetzaltenango, guatemala, as part of the event "quetzaltenango and mexico: sister nations", marking the 500th anniversary of quetzaltenango's foundation. Among the highlights, sonora showcased its natural and cultural richness, with guadalupe beatriz aldaco encinas, general director of the sonoran institute of culture, reinforcing artistic ties between the two nations. Additionally, the exhibition "territorio impasible" by sonoran photographer vctor hurtado captivated audiences with its stunning landscapes. The event was presided over by quetzaltenango's municipal mayor, juan fernando lpez fuentes, and attended by the mexican consul in quetzaltenango, vctor manuel jimnez, who emphasized the significance of this cultural collaboration. Other exhibitions celebrating mexican heritage and art were also inaugurated: - puebla: from the city of angels to world heritage - talavera: heritage of puebla, heritage of the world - apaseo el alto, guanajuato: wooden sculptures these exhibitions were open to the public free of charge throughout december at casa noj link: https://www.facebook.com/iscsonora/posts/inauguraci%c3%b3n-de- exposiciones-quetzaltenango-y-m%c3%a9xico-pueblos-hermanos-hoy-9-de- d/897710025808718/?utm_source=chatgpt.com participants: 350 maintaining the linda arnold finding aids. Mnrn is proud to host linda arnold's finding aids to archives in mexico city (and beyond) as part of the tools for researchers program. Dr. Arnold, emeritus professor of history at virginia tech, is a leading authority on archival collections in mexico and has been working tirelessly over many decades to increase access to these collections through her finding aids. She has spearheaded efforts to catalogue collections at the archivo general de la nacin, the archivo histrico de la suprema corte, and the archivo histrico del arzobispado de mxico, amongst many others, and has generously allowed mnrn to host these as open access files. Link: https://mnrn.org/linda.php participants: 650 users maintaining the tools for researchers program. This program provides a variety of practical resources to researchers to support their fieldwork and digital access in latin america. The first component of the program is the "researcher's guide to mexico city" a comprehensive resource for researchers doing archival research in the megalopolis. Participants: 750 users continue to expand the digital library. With the main goal to increase access to scholarly works about the americas. A great deal of significant research about the americas is published each year in either spanish, english, or portuguese but little of this work is translated and made widely available in other languages. The first step of this digital library made available the publications of scholars affiliated with our board of directors and are available on our website. Link: http://mnrn.org/board-of-directors-staff.php participants: 12 mnrn at the american historical association annual meeting. The annual meeting of the american society for ethnohistory took place in fargo, north dakota, focusing on the theme "colonial (dis)entanglements" across the americas and other world regions. This gathering brought

At risk afghan scholar and artist fellowship support through mnrn as part of a caorc initiative funded by the u.s. State department, the mellon foundation partnered with mnrn to save the lives of afghan scholars-primarily women and musicians-and their families. With support from the mexican government, a special visa category was created to facilitate their safe arrival in mexico directly from kabul, where they were waiting for their migratory process to be resolved. Mnrn arranged comprehensive assistance, including legal aid, healthcare, educational access for children, and language classes. Medical, dental, and emergency care services were also provided. This support aimed to ensure a smooth transition, offering them a secure environment to resume their professional activities. In puebla, mexico, mnrn integrated these scholars into academic and cultural life, laying a foundation for their future careers. Total participants: 50 (grants and allocations = 0) expenses = 29,954.79 6- xicanx: dreamers + changemakers / soadores + creadores del cambio building upon its legacy of cultural connection and artistic dialogue, xicanx: dreamers + changemakers / soadores + creadores del cambio continued to inspire audiences in 2024 with its presentation at contemporary at blue star. Curated by greta de len and jill baird, the exhibition celebrated artists of mexican-american origin who self-identify as xicanx-a term that transcends national borders and gender lines to encompass the chicano people's multigenerational experiences of social difference, activism, and creativity. Featuring works by over 30 influential artists, including celia lvarez muoz, richard "ricky" armendarz, judith f. Baca, rolando briseo, sarah castillo, celeste de luna, and many others, the exhibition showcased a vibrant array of artistic expressions that reflected on themes of identity, community, belonging, and social justice. These artists, spanning multiple generations, bridge the legacy of el movimiento with contemporary explorations of indigeneity, spirituality, and political empowerment. The 2024 presentation was supported by a distinguished host committee, including honorary co-chairs dr. Ellen riojas clark and dr. Toms ybarra- frausto, as well as community leaders catherine and george cisneros, mary alice and dr. Henry g. Cisneros, and others who championed the project's vision and reach. The exhibition welcomed over 7,000 visitors, with 18 public programs engaging 850 participants, alongside 7 school tours reaching 143 students and 15 adults, and 8 community organization tours. Across all programs and events, more than 30 artists and presenters contributed to rich dialogues and creative exchanges. Programming throughout the exhibition period reflected the dynamism of xicanx creativity. Highlights included: ?taco talk with jill baird and greta de len (june 7) ?opening night celebration (june 7) ?contemporary for all | subverted, sacred altars and politics of the he (art) with david zamora casas (june 27) ?family saturday: mi cultura bonita (july 13) ?canta cuentos: storytime reading with ceiba ili (july 20) ?coffee break at the contemporary (august 23) ?xicanx symposium (august 25-26) - including workshops, panel discussions, guided meditations, and master classes with artists such as al rendn, debora kuetzpal vasquez, jon hinojosa, suzy gonzlez, and ellen riojas clark ?big give: westside lotera night with juan miguel ramos (september 18) ?westside murals tours with san anto cultural arts (september 20 & 27) total participants: 8,000 link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18pn9yzm69smrdmhvui3lsqqjevl7ab5y/view? Usp=sharing https://contemporarysa.org/exhibition/xicanx-dreamers-changemakers/ (grants and allocations = 0 expenses = 11,155.34) 7-nombrar / to be-named art gallery of the municipal palace of puebla, mexico august 1 - september 22, 2024 the mexico-north research network inc. In collaboration with recovering voices (smithsonian institution), the experimental humanities collaborative network (ehcn), the open society university network (osun), and the municipal institute of art and culture of puebla (imacp). The international art exhibition nombrar, inaugurated at the art gallery of the municipal palace of puebla, formed part of the global project to be- named, an initiative that explores the cultural politics of names and naming. Brought to mexico by the mexico-north research network inc in collaboration with key international partners, the exhibition sought to highlight the diversity of naming practices and celebrate efforts toward the revitalization of indigenous languages. Curated as an interdisciplinary and intercultural platform, nombrar examined the ways in which the acts of naming are not merely descriptive but creative and transformative, shaping how communities understand themselves and the world around them. The project invited audiences to reflect on who defines whom, and the power dynamics embedded in language, identity, and belonging. The to be-named initiative has been presented in countries across the globe-including greece, mexico, kyrgyzstan, palestine, fiji, germany, the philippines, mozambique, and guatemala-creating a unique network of reflection around naming, language, and cultural identity. Events: past, present, + future: a roundtable that reflected on the vitality of the tu'un savi (mixtec) language in oaxaca, guerrero, and puebla. Scholars and community representatives discussed efforts to strengthen language use and address challenges in intergenerational transmission. Cuentos pa sondear - fandango fandango: a cultural project celebrating mexico's rich traditions through dance, music, language, and literature. Workshops and performances showcased how these practices preserve knowledge and ways of life, strengthening community cultural identity. Sasaniltsin guessing with the nawas: led by dr. Jos antonio flores farfn, this interactive workshop explored the nhuatl riddle tradition, engaging participants in linguistic play and cultural discovery. The session highlighted the creative and educational value of oral traditions, complemented by music and storytelling. Exploring the colors of the rainbow as a family: facilitated by artist shulaska, this creative family workshop promoted self-awareness through storytelling and art. Tyiu'u: honoring | gathering of indigenous curators: held at casa de la cultura "profesor pedro ngel palou prez," this roundtable brought together curators and museum professionals from inah, yucu saa community museum, and regional cultural institutions. Moderated by lic. Izaira lpez snchez, the discussion addressed challenges and opportunities for community museums and the preservation of heritage in puebla. Amate paper workshop: led by artist jorge luis santos, this workshop introduced participants to the traditional otom process of making ptehi | amatl (bark paper) from san pablito, pahuatln, puebla. Communicative codes in mexican textiles: a discussion panel examining the symbolism, techniques embedded in indigenous textile traditions. Speakers reflected on how geography, resources, and oral history shape designs, while also addressing the impact of globalization on preserving traditional techniques. Textiles: the art of original peoples: a complementary panel celebrating textiles as living cultural heritage. Discussions focused on the role of textile art in expressing worldviews and maintaining intergenerational connections through material culture. Workshop: painting and naming animals in tu'un savi: an interactive art session inspired by uu savi (mixtec) pre-hispanic codices. Participants illustrated culturally significant animals while learning about symbolism, language, and visual traditions in mixtec culture. Uu savi codices workshop: a session exploring mixtec codices - sacred pre-colonial manuscripts - and their meaning, reading systems, and role in preserving knowledge and history. Artists' book workshop: this hands-on workshop offered participants a creative experience in artist bookmaking, focusing on instinctive visual expression and individual artistic interpretation within the context of nombrar's broader themes of language and identity. Part of "nombrar" - ehcn-mxico 2024: experimental humanities collaborative network annual seminar in summer 2024, the mexico-north research network inc. Played a key role in organizing the annual seminar of the experimental humanities collaborative network (ehcn), held in puebla, mexico, preceding the opening of the art exhibition nombrar. The event brought together over 50 participants from diverse academic and creative disciplines, fostering an environment of collaboration, learning, and cultural exchange. Throughout the week-long gathering, participants deepened their understanding of mexico's rich cultural landscape, with a particular focus on puebla's historical and artistic heritage. The conference offered a series of sessions dedicated to discussing the or