Zapotec, Mixtec, Huave, Nahuatl and the other 12 indigenous languages of Oaxaca have fewer and fewer native speakers. As young people want to become part of the “mainstream” Spanish-speaking culture they leave their mother language and their culture behind — often out of the strong desire to assimilate.
And continuing education requires commitment, resources, and a lifting out of rural poverty. Oaxaca is the second poorest state in Mexico and one of the most rural.
Many villages have kindergartens and primary schools that offer bilingual education. For example, in Teotitlan del Valle the kindergarten teaches in both Zapotec and Spanish and encourages children to learn and speak Zapotec at home and as part of their everyday communication.
A new indigenous language center is opening in Oaxaca city supported by the Alfredo Harp Helu Foundation. The historic building that will house the center is under renovation now and I don’t know exactly when it will open.
The Center will preserve and teach indigenous languages in Oaxaca. Our friend Janet Chavez Santiago, who speaks fluent Zapotec, Spanish, English, French, and a smattering of other European languages, will coordinate the educational programs designed to inform the public about the importance and value of teaching language to sustain culture. She will also develop programs to bring in young people to study, learn, and enjoy the languages spoken by their parents and grandparents.
The British publication The Guardian published an essay on Wednesday, June 29, 2011, as part of a journalism competition entitled Lessons From Oaxaca: What stops children in rural areas going to school?
Here is the link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/journalismcompetition/lessons-from-oaxaca
San Francisco State University Professor Troi Carleton is determined to save Zapotec, a language indigenous to Mexico — and to do it before it is lost to new generations transformed by technology and social change. “When a language dies, its culture dies, too,” Carleton said. For years, she has been bringing linguistics students to Teotitlan del Valle to live with families and record the language — an oral tradition that has not been written down. I’ll be talking to Troi more about her more recent work in upcoming posts.
FYI: The new indigenous language center will be next to the Museo Textil de Oaxaca, corner Hidalgo and Fiallo, two blocks from the Zocalo.
What’s amazing is that you can be wear any plain ‘ole thing underneath, and a great apron from Tlacolula just adds color, fun and spark to life. When you come to a village in Oaxaca you will see that the apron is just part of everyday dressing. For us, it’s a way to enjoy another dimension of Oaxaca. Now, we are ready for cooking class!
Return to San Pablo: Oaxaca’s Indigenous Cultural and Academic Center
At Centro Academico y Cultural San Pablo we discover secrets, surprises and ancient stones.
An 18th century rosary chapel with contemporary stained glass window designed by Francisco Toledo, the imposing green stone façade mingled with original 16th century adobe, and a gold-leaf altar are only a few of the architectural delights of San Pablo de los Indios, the first Dominican convent in Oaxaca.
Our guide, Janet Chavez Santiago, coordinator of educational programs, described the features and history of this glorious structure. She said there were important surprises found during the excavation for the foundation:
Two female skeletons were uncovered that date from 500 B.C. These are the oldest found in Oaxaca, older than those from Monte Alban I. The women were buried with ceramics of the same style found at Monte Alban, though older.
Every convent has a fountain, Janet says. The location was evident but the design of the original fountain was illusive, so architect Mauricio Rocha created a symbolic water feature out of obsidian, a native Mexican stone.
In the main patio, the outline of a doorway framed by ruffled stone, was the opening to Benito Juarez University, which was known as Instituto des Artes de Oaxaca.
Later, Janet would show us where Benito Juarez, director of the institute, later president of Mexico and leader of the reformation, had his offices. At the entrance, there are two layers of painting: 17th century frescoes and grafitti and 19th century wallpaper.
The main patio area, called the sala capitula, is where the Dominicans assembled to govern the convent. Architects wanted to go down to the original floor and as they did, they found a large rock and river stones. As they kept excavating they uncovered a Zapotec temple foundation that was the same age as the bone discoveries. Archeologists who were brought in to examine the materials believe the city was an indigenous religious center that pre-dates the famed mountaintop site.
The beauty of San Pablo is more than skin deep. It takes us back to the origins of Oaxaca and it is not too difficult to imagine life as it might have been then. The convent is dedicated to the cultural and linguistic diversity of the state and preserving the traditions and language of its indigenous people. Originally, it was the only convent to serve the indigenous population.
As Janet explains the language of the stones used in the original structure (flat and hand hewn) and the later restorations, she also tells us that one of her primary goals is to teach Zapotec (Tlacolula valley dialect) to anyone who is interested. She hopes the courses will begin in May 2012.
As we leave, we take one last glimpse at the imposing green glass wall that surrounds and protects the library archives. We marvel at this architectural masterpiece that so consciously and sensitively blends past with present and future to keep the dream of cultural continuity alive.
Footnote: Originally, the entrance to San Pablo faced toward the Zocalo and was framed by a large patio. There were three alleyways open to access it. Over the years, these alleyways were closed off and the patio disappeared as the Dominicans sold off property to pay to restore the church bell tower and other damage during a major 18th century earthquake. That’s when private homes and the Macedonio Alcala Theatre were built. San Pablo was last used as a hotel when the Alfredo Harp Helu Foundation purchased it in 2005. The restoration began in 2006, totally supported by the Foundation.
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Posted in Cultural Commentary, Oaxaca Mexico art and culture, Travel & Tourism
Tagged blogsherpa, culture, Francisco Toldeo, indigenous, language, Mexico, museum, Oaxaca, Zapotec