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Tamoanchan a Project of GAYA

Presently, a project called Tamoanchan, the creation of a self-sufficient teaching center, to preserve and transmit the ancient Aztec practices, teachings, and language, is emerging from the Kalpulli Kuauhilama. Kalpulli Kuauhilama, the name of the specific group within the Aztec community, is a word meaning “Community of the Elder Eagle.” Since its inception, over 13 years ago, they have been dedicated to the gathering, research and practice of the Aztec culture as passed down through the millennia by their ancestors. Through their work they have built a common bond, unity and alliance with other Aztec family groups and peoples across North and South America.

As with other Indigenous Peoples, the culture and traditions of the Aztec people are in danger. In Mexico today the Aztec people are not even recognized by the government as a living tradition. The primary reason is because they do not have a designated territory in which to live as an Aztec Nation. Though an extensive range of knowledge remains throughout Mexico, modern life styles are threatening the preservation and survival of their culture.

Thus the Kalpulli Kuauhilama are in the developmental stages of establishing Tamoanchan which means “The Place Where We Come From,” in Amatlan de Quetzalcoatl, Mexico, on land using traditional architecture and sustainable living practices. The center will provide a foundation for teaching and practicing the ancient Aztec spiritual practices, sciences, calendar, language (Nahuatl), traditional medicine, ceremonial dance, music, art, and the integral beliefs of the culture. The center will balance traditional wisdom and culture with present-day ecological and sustainable methods. Tamoanchan will be a living example of this tradition, while providing a model for other Indigenous communities that are seeking to restore their traditions and once again return to a place of balance with the natural world .

The first phase will consist of establishing the Tamoanchan Headquarters along with an Aztec teaching center on a smaller scale in the southern region of Mexico City. The center will partly sustain itself financially through the establishment of a connecting internet café called Itzpapalotl (Obsidian Butterfly).

The purpose of setting up a headquarters in Mexico City, prior to a beautiful land-based center, is to expose the teachings where the largest population of the Aztec family groups live and work. The center will have a strong positive cultural and social impact in continuing to create unity amongst the family groups scattered throughout the city. It will also help garner resources for the overall vision of Tamoanchan as well as solidify additional important relationships and partnerships with community, environmental/grassroots organizations, and youth.

Ongoing Projects of Tamoanchan

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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