Ongoing Projects of Tamoanchan
in Mexico

Huehuetlahtolli -The Elders Project

The Elders of every culture, who have lived according to the principles of their traditions, are the key people who can pass down the knowledge, customs and language that make every culture a source of living wisdom. M any of our Elders are disappearing and those remaining are living in extreme poverty. The purpose of the Elders Project is to provide financial support for their basic needs, to give back dignity and gratitude. Presently the Elders project supports four elders in Mexico. Our oldest elder, Nana Cleta at 105, still participates in the Conchero traditional dance and is a symbol of inspiration and strength for her community.

With the understanding that our elders are our living connection to our rich heritage and our youth are our living connection to our continued existence, the Elders Project brings youth and elders together in meaningful ways. Youth have begun to help the elders with their specific needs such as maintenance and repair of their homes and gardens. They have also begun the process of recording and interviewing the elders and developing a record of their personal history, cultural wisdom, and teachings for our archives and for publication in our efforts to continue our Aztec legacy.

Yotocanih - Youth Cultural Exchange Program

Yotocanih is a summer program that provides youth with the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of other cultures, with a primary focus on bridging friendship and alliances between youth from Mexico, Native American communities and non-native youth within the United States. Through cultural sharing, young people are encouraged to reconnect with their roots and reclaim their ceremonies, honoring the wisdom inherent in their diverse traditions.

A major aspect of the exchange is developing leadership skills and helping youth meet many of the challenges they face today by fostering positive solutions through communication skills, creative conflict resolution processes and whole systems decision making. As a united voice they become stronger and can address the critical situation of our global community.

Itzpapalotl Cultural Café

The first phase of the Tamoanchan Project is to establish the Itzpapalotl Cultural Café in Mexico City. The café will serve as an inspiring, safe space for Aztec cultural gatherings and teachings, for the artistic expressions of our youth, and where concerned individuals can educate themselves and seek solutions regarding the fragile state of the planet. It will be a place where Elders and traditional teachers can transmit their knowledge and offer workshops on traditional art, language, philosophy, and cosmology. The center will include an extensive multimedia library and give presentations on environmental issues, sustainable living techniques and Indigenous ecological knowledge. The café will serve to sustain the Tamoanchan Headquarters and provide a stepping-stone to the land-base teaching center inAmatlan de Quetzalcoatl.

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