Guelaguetza: Solidarity Speaks and Eats

The class of UBC Geography 495 invites you to – Guelaguetza: Solidarity Speaks and Eats – on 23 April 2010. Doors open at 7:00PM at St. Mary’s Church in Kerrisdale, at 2490 West 37th Avenue. Please join us for a night filled with traditional Oaxacan food, drinks, art, music and dancing. Students will be showcasing their cookbook of Oaxacan recipes & other activities. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door (includes food – no one will be turned away for lack of funds; children under 12 get in free). Bring your friends & family, all are welcome! GEOG 495 is collaborating with the Women’s Cooperative Margarita Magon of CIPO-RFM, CIPO-VAN and Sprouts Food Cooperative to support communities in Oaxaca involved in indigenous rights & food resistance. Please contact us at solidarityspeaks@gmail.com for advance tickets. For more details about our class, please visit our blog at: http://solidarityspeaks.wordpress.com/ What is a Guelaguetza? The word guelaguetza means the reciprocal exchange of gifts and services in the Zapotec language. It is a celebration of food and dance, and is an essential part of the indigenous usos y costumbres in Oaxaca. Many members of the community contribute to the organization of the guelaguetza and the responsibilities shift each time so that eventually the entire community participates in making the celebrations come to life. It is an embodiment of the strong sense of community responsibility and cooperation that is a defining characteristic of indigenous Oaxacan culture. What is CIPO-RFM? CIPO-VAN? The Popular Indigenous Council of Oaxaca -Ricardo Flores Magon (CIPO-RFM) is the house of those living in poverty who struggle against injustice. It is an organization of communities that fight peacefully, independent of all political parties and institutions and organizations of government. It is operated by consensus of an assembly and currently represents 26 indigenous communities. CIPO-VAN is a Vancouver-based activist organization committed to the creation of community and transnational networks. Its primary focus is the dissemination of information and perspectives on autonomous community organizations and the strengthening of public awareness and civil society through public events and alternative media. Particular attention is paid to aboriginal cultural rights, sustainable community living, and resolutions to cultural and economic discrimination. Members include students, professionals, Canadians, Mexican and internationals of different cultures. CIPO-VAN is guided and inspired by many aspects of indigenous Mexican culture including food, fiesta and communal participation. Please visit the group’s websites for more information: http://www.nodo50.org/cipo-van/ (English) http://www.nodo50.org/cipo/ (Spanish)