Preview of Immigration Awareness Week begins March 27

Carolyn BrownFLAGSTAFF — A preview of Immigration Awareness Week, a series of speakers, events, and films designed to raise awareness and generate conversation about issues of immigration will begin on March 27.

Mario Martín-Flores, professor of Spanish at San Diego State University, will present the lecture “La Literatura Bajacaliforniana: de LA Ruptura a la Generación Equis y Más Incógnitas”, at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 Health and Learning Center, 824 So. San Francisco St, Flagstaff, Room 3103. This free talk will be in Spanish.

Northern Arizona University’s Latin American Studies is co-sponsoring with Ethnic Studies the presentation by Carolyn Brown “From the Fields: An American Journey” (the story of a Chicano Activist), at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 at SBS-Castro, Room 110, Northern Arizona University. Brown is assistant professor at American University, a journalist and documentary film maker.

Martín-Flores will then present the lecture “Baja California Culture: Crossroads of Leftovers, Migrations, Recyclings and other Emergencies,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 28 at Northern Arizona University, Liberal Arts Building, Room 136. This talk will be in English. Martín-Flores specializes in literature from Latin America and Mexico, particularly of the Baja California border region.

Contact Robert Neustadt at 928-523-2411 or via email at Robert.Neustadt@nau.edu for more information.

Additional Immigration Week events will be presented in April. Click here for more information.

Rudolfo Anaya’s ‘Bless Me, Ultima’ comes to Flagstaff

Bless Me UltimaFLAGSTAFF — “Bless Me, Ultima,” a film by Carl Franklin based on the novel by Rudolfo Anaya, opened Friday, March 15 at Harkins Flagstaff 11, 1959 So. Woodlands Village Blvd., Flagstaff.

Showtimes are 9:50 a.m., 12:40, 3:20, 5:20 and 7:40 p.m.

Based on the controversial, first award-winning Chicano novel by acclaimed author Rudolfo Anaya, “Bless Me, Ultima” is a turbulent coming-of-age story about a young boy, Antonio (Luke Ganalon), growing up in New Mexico during World War II, Arenas Entertainment reported in a media release. Arenas is distributing and marketing the film.

When a mysterious curandera (healer) named Ultima (Miriam Colon) comes to live with his family, she teaches him about the power of the spiritual world. As their relationship grows, Antonio begins to question his strict upbringing by his parents (Dolores Heredia & Benito Martinez). Through a series of mysterious and at times terrifying events, Antonio must grapple with questions about the nature of divinity and his own destiny.

As Ultima teaches Antonio about the spiritual world, Antonio begins to question the strict Catholic doctrine he has learned from his parents. A series of mysterious events forces Antonio to face difficult questions about good and evil, destiny and how to reconcile Ultima’s abilities with the Catholic church’s teachings.

Continue reading Rudolfo Anaya’s ‘Bless Me, Ultima’ comes to Flagstaff

Mayan elder to speak at NAU Native American Cultural Center on Nov. 7

Diego Chavez Petzey, Tz’ utujil Mayan Elder, from the Asociación Cultural Gran Señor Tepepul-Chutnamit from Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala, will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7 at the Native American Cultural Center at Northern Arizona University.

 

 

He will speak on:

  • 2012: Ancient Mayan knowledge and its relevance today
  • Community organizing and cultural resistence
  • Indigenous culture and spirituality
  • Woodcarving workshop

Click here for more information.

Miguel Vasquez from NAU, left, introduces Diego Chavez Petzey, second from left, during a recent presentation at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Photo by Frank X. Moraga / Shooting Star Communications LLC. ©2012

Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council