Gilroy
– For the Huichol, an indigenous tribe in north central Mexico,
yarn art is an expression of thanks for the abundance of resources
their sun god provides. Thanks to students at the Mount Madonna
School, DVDs are now an expression of support when that abundance
is put in jeopardy.
Gilroy – For the Huichol, an indigenous tribe in north central Mexico, yarn art is an expression of thanks for the abundance of resources their sun god provides. Thanks to students at the Mount Madonna School, DVDs are now an expression of support when that abundance is put in jeopardy.
A fifth grade class at the mountaintop school recently used sales of a video compilation of student art to raise $1,135 to benefit the Huichol, whose village in La Labor had been devastated by a flood.
The flood, which ripped through the Sierra Madre Mountains where the Huichol live, washed out buildings, ruined crops and spread diseases such as cholera through the 50-person community.
As 30 of the Huichol are children, it was natural for MMS’s students to lend a hand.
“It makes us feel great that we’re helping people in La Labor,” said Luciano Himenez, one of 13 students in Sri Gyan James McCaughan’s class.
Three years ago, much of the class had attended a reading by author Bonnie Larson and Huichol illustrator Modesto Rivera Lemus. Their book, “When Animals Were People,” retells Huichol creation myths using traditional yarn art.
Larson reconnected with the school earlier this year, informing it of the difficulties the indigenous tribe faced. At the time, McCaughan’s class was gearing up for their DVD project.
Asked if they would like the proceeds of DVD sales to benefit the Huichol, “Without an exception, everybody said yes,” McCaughan said.
The DVD project, which last year raised more than $800 for Heifer International, is a cross-curricular assignment in which small groups film, edit, market and sell a reading of their poetry.
Now in its second year, the project integrates student art and information learned in science class about nearby Pajaro Watershed.
“It makes us feel really nice that we’re having lots of fun making this DVD and that we’re helping children in Mexico who need help,” said student Brianna Heldt.
The Huichol might use the money students raised to purchase a parcel of land on the opposite side of the hill from where they now live. This is meant to situate them in a place where future flooding will not affect them.
Larson expressed thanks on behalf of the Huichol community, which live in an area known as Ywrata.
“I was so impressed by the professional look of the cover and the DVD itself-but, of course, the most wonderful thing was the care and concern expressed for the Ywrata community,” she wrote to McCaughan.
As thankful as the Huichol are, the Mount Madonna Students have also learned thankfulness.
“I’m grateful that we have clean water and that we’re not sick and that we have food,” said Gilroy resident Jenny Turk.
“I’m grateful we could share our surplus,” McCaughan added.
