sii agua sí
Remembering the Waterways in Yelamu
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Honoring the 5,700 Indigenous Ancestors Buried in the Cemetery at the Mission Dolores
Remembering the Waterways in Yelamu
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Honoring the 5,700 Indigenous Ancestors Buried in the Cemetery at the Mission Dolores
OCT. 23, 2021 (4pm-9:30pm)
Outdoor Latinx + Indigenous Dance Festival
STREET CLOSURE! Decolonizing the Mission Creek Corridor on 18TH STREET
(between Church St. and Dolores St.)
Outdoor Latinx + Indigenous Dance Festival
STREET CLOSURE! Decolonizing the Mission Creek Corridor on 18TH STREET
(between Church St. and Dolores St.)
sii = water (Ohlone Ramaytush)
Since 2014, FLACC has provided a platform of visibility and inclusivity for over 60 resistant, queer, indigenous, and hybrid choreographers of the Latinx diaspora who cross cultural, physical, and aesthetic borders of tradition to abstraction. To adapt to the obstacles of Covid 19, our 8th annual Festival of Latin American Contemporary Choreographers will host several artists from different disciplines to support our curatorial theme "sii agua sí" in our first outdoor festival along the Mission Creek/18th Street Corridor in Yelamu.
FLACC 2021: sii agua sí (water water yes) - "sii" is the Ohlone word for "water." In memory of the blocked and soil-filled waterways that once flowed in this region and in honor of the 5700 local Indigenous ancestors buried in the cemetery at the Mission Dolores, FLACC is centralizing the voices and themes of the land-based site in collaboration and solidarity with local Ohlone leaders, SF Parks, Dance Mission Theater and other community partners. Through community rituals, live performance installations and historical talks, sii agua si is symbolically re-filling the site with water (sii) to bring awareness and healing to a painful history of cultural genocide and ecocide that seeps beneath the streets of the Mission District.
With a temporary mural by local artists to guide the audience in the daytime and installing multiple video projections of water to visually define performance and ritual spaces at night, the festival will take place within a watery landscape. Water blessings, land acknowledgements, invocations, traditional and contemporary dances, ofrendas and live musical collaborations will take place in various sites along the path to honor our human and non-human ancestors.
FLACC 2021: sii agua sí (water water yes) - "sii" is the Ohlone word for "water." In memory of the blocked and soil-filled waterways that once flowed in this region and in honor of the 5700 local Indigenous ancestors buried in the cemetery at the Mission Dolores, FLACC is centralizing the voices and themes of the land-based site in collaboration and solidarity with local Ohlone leaders, SF Parks, Dance Mission Theater and other community partners. Through community rituals, live performance installations and historical talks, sii agua si is symbolically re-filling the site with water (sii) to bring awareness and healing to a painful history of cultural genocide and ecocide that seeps beneath the streets of the Mission District.
With a temporary mural by local artists to guide the audience in the daytime and installing multiple video projections of water to visually define performance and ritual spaces at night, the festival will take place within a watery landscape. Water blessings, land acknowledgements, invocations, traditional and contemporary dances, ofrendas and live musical collaborations will take place in various sites along the path to honor our human and non-human ancestors.
By re-imagining the natural creeks, lagoons and waterways in sii agua sí, FLACC honors the former natural landscape and its ancestors who fell victim to ecocide and genocide due to industrialism and colonization. FLACC acknowledges the attempted extermination of Ohlone Ramaytush, Miwok, Mutsun, Chochenyo, Rumsen, Muwekma and the surrounding original people. This festival is an opportunity for their descendants to share practices that promise to restore waterways and honor their ancestors. Through a long-term relationship building process, FLACC hopes to bring allies of religious, cultural and educational institutions within the neighborhood into a space of action and solidarity among Indigenous landback and water rights movements. The festival aims to grow capacity within contemporary Latinx arts communities to support Indigenous led healing.
The Laguna Dolores was near the Misión Dolores (formally known as Mission San Francisco de Asis), and Mission creek flowed on the 18th street side of Dolores Park in front of Mission High School. The 18th Street closure is the the area where the Chutchui Village once thrived.
The Laguna Dolores was near the Misión Dolores (formally known as Mission San Francisco de Asis), and Mission creek flowed on the 18th street side of Dolores Park in front of Mission High School. The 18th Street closure is the the area where the Chutchui Village once thrived.
Featured Artists and Culture Bearers:
Gregg Castro(Ohlone Ramaytush)
Kanyon Sayers-Roods (Ohlone Mutsun and Chumash)
Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe Hummaya Singers and Dancers
Violeta Luna(US/MX)
Kevin Gaytan(MX/US)
Mariana Sobral(Argentina/US)
FLACC Community Dancers:
Alex Escalante, Hugo Quintero, Carmina Márquez, Juliana Mendonca, Liz Boubion,
Nicole Maimon, Sabrina Baranda, Stephanie Hewett, Stephanie Sherman, Xedex Olivas
Creekwater Sound Artist & DJ:
Ras K'Dee (Dry Creek Pomo) of Audiopharmacy
(the sound of water will replace the sound of buses and cars on 18th Street from 2-7pm)
Muralists:
Adrian Arias(Peru/US)
Pancho Peskador(Chile/US)
Video Projection:
Ben Wood(England/US)
Gregg Castro(Ohlone Ramaytush)
Kanyon Sayers-Roods (Ohlone Mutsun and Chumash)
Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe Hummaya Singers and Dancers
Violeta Luna(US/MX)
Kevin Gaytan(MX/US)
Mariana Sobral(Argentina/US)
FLACC Community Dancers:
Alex Escalante, Hugo Quintero, Carmina Márquez, Juliana Mendonca, Liz Boubion,
Nicole Maimon, Sabrina Baranda, Stephanie Hewett, Stephanie Sherman, Xedex Olivas
Creekwater Sound Artist & DJ:
Ras K'Dee (Dry Creek Pomo) of Audiopharmacy
(the sound of water will replace the sound of buses and cars on 18th Street from 2-7pm)
Muralists:
Adrian Arias(Peru/US)
Pancho Peskador(Chile/US)
Video Projection:
Ben Wood(England/US)
Panel Discussions:
What does it mean to be Two Spirit on Ohlone Land?
Panel Discussion with Weaving Spirits on Wednesday Oct 13, 5pm-6pm PST
Remembering Water in sii agua sí:
Panel Discussion with story keepers from 3 Ohlone tribal affiliations:
Gregg Castro, Kanyon Sayers-Roods and Carla Muñoz Oct. 21, 6pm PST
What does it mean to be Two Spirit on Ohlone Land?
Panel Discussion with Weaving Spirits on Wednesday Oct 13, 5pm-6pm PST
Remembering Water in sii agua sí:
Panel Discussion with story keepers from 3 Ohlone tribal affiliations:
Gregg Castro, Kanyon Sayers-Roods and Carla Muñoz Oct. 21, 6pm PST
Curators and Organizers:
FLACC’s founding artistic director and lead curator, Liz Duran Boubion, invited a team of local Latinx and indigenous curators and organizers who will guide the festival vision, follow Ohlone Protocol, centralize the voices of indigenous culture bearers, while building alliances with Latinx contemporary dance artists. The curation team includes:
Kanyon Sayers-Roods (Ohlone Mutsun Culture Bearer)
Snowflake Calvert (Two spirit Yaqui, Raramuri and Tzotzil Mayan Dancer)
Stephanie Sherman (Choreographer and Latin American Studies Scholar)
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FLACC's Artistic Director: Liz Duran Boubion(US/MX)
FLACC’s Managing Director: Zoë Klein (Colombia/US)
FLACC’s Production Manager: Emelia Martinez Brumbaugh (US/MX)
FLACC’s founding artistic director and lead curator, Liz Duran Boubion, invited a team of local Latinx and indigenous curators and organizers who will guide the festival vision, follow Ohlone Protocol, centralize the voices of indigenous culture bearers, while building alliances with Latinx contemporary dance artists. The curation team includes:
Kanyon Sayers-Roods (Ohlone Mutsun Culture Bearer)
Snowflake Calvert (Two spirit Yaqui, Raramuri and Tzotzil Mayan Dancer)
Stephanie Sherman (Choreographer and Latin American Studies Scholar)
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FLACC's Artistic Director: Liz Duran Boubion(US/MX)
FLACC’s Managing Director: Zoë Klein (Colombia/US)
FLACC’s Production Manager: Emelia Martinez Brumbaugh (US/MX)
In addition to learning about and practicing local indigenous protocol as a way to repair harm done by the homogenizing effects of the concept of Latinidad and as a way of honoring the many indigeneities embodied in the concept, we strive to offer financial support to the leaders and groups who share their traditional knowledge as a practice of protecting land and water. Help us support their work.
ARTISTS & CULTURE BEARERS BIOS
Photo Credit: Fernando Gallegos
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Kanyon Sayers-Roods belongs to the Ohlone-Mutsun and Chumash Tribes; she also goes by her given Native name, “Coyote Woman”. She is the CEO of Kanyon Konsulting LLC a consultation firm dedicated to bridging the gap between indigenous and contemporary value systems. Coyote Woman is an Artist, Poet, Published Author, Activist, Student and Teacher. The daughter of Ann-Marie Sayers, she was raised in Indian Canyon trust land of her family, which currently is one of the few spaces in Central California available for the Indigenous community for ceremony. Kanyon’s art has been featured at the De Young Museum, The Somarts Gallery, Gathering Tribes, Snag Magazine, and numerous Powwows and Indigenous Gatherings. She is a recent graduate of the Art Institute of California, Sunnyvale, obtaining her Associate and Bachelor of Science degrees in Web Design and Interactive Media.
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The Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe is a band of California Mission Indians with over 2,000 tribal members relocated to Southern California. Emerging to reclaim their cultural practice, language, and ancestral lands to the north, affirming continued existence, concern for the environment and the desire for unity amongst all peoples. Today, the tribe continues to highlight living in ricopracity with our Mother Earth through song and dance honoring their ancestral heritage as the Hummaya (hummingbird) Singers and Dancers. Ensuring spiritual and cultural values for generations to come.
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Gregg Castro [t'rowt'raahl Salinan/rumsien-ramaytush Ohlone], has been involved in preservation of his cultural heritage for nearly three decades, for both his late Mother’s rumsien Ohlone heritage, and on his late Father’s side, the since ended ‘Salinan Nation Tribal Council’ (serving two terms as Tribal Chair) and currently the non-profit organization, Salinan T’rowt’raahl. Gregg is a member of the Society for California Archaeology (SCA). Gregg is a Co-Facilitator for the annual California Indian Conference, a 30+ year gathering about California Indigenous heritage. Gregg is a writer and activist within the California indigenous community, on issues regarding cultural preservation, protection, education and traditional practices. Gregg is the Culture Director of the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone, the organization representing the heritage of the people indigenous to "Yelamu", San Francisco.
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Violeta Luna (SF)(Actress / Performance Artist / Activist): Born in Mexico City, Luna obtained her graduate degree in Acting from the Centro Universitario de Teatro (CUT – UNAM), and La Casa del Teatro. Her work activates the relationship between theatre, performance art and community engagement. Working within a multidimensional space that allows for the crossing of aesthetic and conceptual borders, Luna uses her body as a territory to question and comment on social and political phenomena. She has performed and taught workshops throughout Latin America and Europe, as well as in Rwanda, Egypt, New Zealand, Japan, Canada and USA. While primarily working as a solo performer, she is also an associate artist of the San Francisco-based performance collectives La Pocha Nostra and Secos & Mojados. She is a Creative Capital and National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) Fellow, and a member of The Magdalena Project: International Network of Women in Contemporary Theatre. Significant works include: "Requiem for a Lost Land", "Frida", "NK603: Action for Performer and e-Maiz", "Apuntes sobre la Frontera" and a series of collaborations with La Pocha Notstra.
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Kevin Gaytan graduated San Jose State University as a double major in Sociology and a bachelor’s in fine arts. He has worked and trained under the instruction of Bay Area choreographers and lecturers such as Heather Cooper, Raphael Boumaila, Jill Yager and Dominique Lomuljo. In addition, he has studied composition and the art of choreography under the instruction of Fred Mathews at San Jose State University. Some of Mr. Gaytan’s performing highlights include classical Jose Limon works such as Psalm and Misa Brevis. He has also had the honor of performing and working for Tandy Beal & Company. In addition, as part of a choreography in residence program, he has performed with Doug Varone and dancers in Doug Varone’s “In the shelter of the fold” in 2018. Mr. Gaytan is currently an active company member of SjDanceCo under the artistic direction of Gary Masters and Maria Basile. As well as Rogelio Lopez and Dancers under the artistic direction of Rogelio Lopez. In addition to also working with Cypher Dance Company, under the artistic direction of Karina Cervantes.
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Mariana Sobral is the Artistic Director and founder of eMotion Arts, a dance company with the mission of spreading a message of Oneness, Awareness, and Connection through Dance. Born in Argentina, her career as Soloist and Principal Dancer include roles in classical and contemporary works. Upon moving to the USA, Mariana developed Ballet programs and created award-winning choreographies for studios and companies through the Bay Area, teaching ballet and directing students of all ages and experience levels. As a choreographer her work has been seen in San Francisco as part of the RAW Artist residence at SAFEhouse Arts, San Francisco Arts Movement, The DanceWright Project, PUSHfest, SPF, West Wave, and also in Regional, National, and International competitions where they earned her many choreography awards.
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Adrian Arias (American, born in Peru, 1961)
Is a visual artist, poet, performer, curator, activist, and cultural promoter, who brings together multidisciplinary artists to engage in community projects with messages of social justice, racial equality, climate change, peace, beauty, health, and hope in the San Francisco Bay Area. Arias is one of the founders and creators of MAPP (Mission Arts Performance Project) and creator of festivals in the San Francisco Bay Area such as: VideoFest, Luna Negra, and ILLUSION shows in San Francisco. Adrian uses his dreams as creative initiatives, which he makes come true in performances and community projects, such as his multimedia shows called DREAMS, that have been presented at Fort Mason, The Red Poppy Art House, ODC Theater and Dance Mission as part of FLACC (Festival of Latin American Contemporary Choreographers), and most currently Tarot in Pandemic & Revolution, where 24 visual artists and 43 poets from the SF Bay Area have participated. |
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Pancho Pescador was born in Santiago de Chile in 1972. Pancho is a self-taught visual artist, muralist, music lover and a visual activist. He combines these disciplines to stir things up and to activate critical and imaginative thinking. Life brought him to Oakland, CA where he lives, creates and shows his visual guerrillas. Pancho Pescador belongs to a collective of muralists and street art called Community Rejuvenation Project (CRP) based in Oakland.
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Ben Wood is a public video artist based in San Francisco. In his work with large-scale projection and installations, he combines media art with historical subject matter. He is especially devoted to using contemporary media to animate public spaces with images of their unrecognized history, and exposing how histories of marginalized and often forgotten communities may be visually reintroduced into the physical landscape of the present. Wood has explored a re-animation of history, by reviving historic murals in order to spark dynamic conversation about relevant contemporary questions and issues. Wood is known for large-scale displays on Coit Tower, Haas-Lilienthal House, Temple Emanuel, Saint Ignatius Church, within Mission Dolores, and other San Francisco landmarks. Wood has a BFA in Digital Media from the San Francisco Art Institute and a Master in Visual Studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Photo: Ben Wood's Thanksgiving projection commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Occupation of Alcatraz Island in 1969 by native activists.
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