Guunade Zapotec Stesh Yaguize Project
Mission
In english, Guunade Zapotec stesh Yaguize translates to "The Zapotec Women of Yaguize." Yaguize is a small Zapotec village located in the central valleys of Oaxaca, Mexico. The purpose of this project is to give a voice to the indigenous Zapotec women who are often marginalized within the community. Check the images and videos below in order to learn more about these amazing Zapotec women.
Coquihani: I don’t know. It just makes me angry.
Malinali looks at Coquihani confused.
Malinali: Why? Why are you angry? You should be happy.
Coquihani: I’m just mad that it took me 18 years of my life to be proud of my culture, my language, of who I am. I didn’t appreciate it until now. How desperately we tried to assimilate. To forget……
"Ever since my son migrated to the United States, I have been praying every single day for him to one day return permanently. I dream the day in which he, my grandchildren, and my daughter in law, will live in this big house from which my son sacrificed so much to build. I don't wanna be alone. I want them with me, so that we can all live happily till the day comes where I must go".
-Tomasa Ruiz
"I've got 36 grandchildren. One of my daughters alone had 17 kids. Some of them I believe live in some places called California and Washington. I haven't gotten to know all of them, but I hope some day I do."
-Juana Bautista
"When I think about the holidays, I think about family, festivities, and happiness. However, it's been more than 20 years since I have felt the holiday spirit. I am alone. I cry because I am not with my family. I wanting to be with them, and they wanting to be with me. I ask god, why must I suffer alone. Why do borders exist? All I want is to be with my son and his children. I want to be happy. I want to feel that same happiness I once felt years ago."
-Enedina Morales
“Hey you kid with the camera!"
"Come take a picture of me and my friend, I want to send it to my son in the United States.”
-Isabel Rodriguez Ruiz & Selipa Aquino
"My sister passed away this June and never had the opportunity to see me dance. Every step, every movement, every moment I dedicate to her. Dancing liberates everything, your frustrations, your worries, your stress. I dance because I want people to know that my village is still here, that we indigenous people are still here. I want the world to know my culture, my language, and my people."
-Miriam Garcia Martinez
(Miriam made history August of 2016 by being the first woman Danzante to ever participate in la Danza de la Pluma in the village of Yaguize. She also became the first person ever to be a Danzante and a Malinche at the same time.)
"Coming from a low-income family and adjusting to life in Irvine has been really hard. I am constantly surrounded by so many intelligent people. Sometimes I ask myself how in the world did I get accepted into this institution. I feel as if my vocabulary isn't even high enough to be here. I feel out of place. I don't come from a family of money. I don't come from a family of scholars. What am I doing here?"
-Alejandra Cruz
Rosie Gutierrez, 22, is a graduate of Cal State University Los Angeles. Being the first in her family to attend college, Gutierrez knew the barriers her community members faced. “I grew up in Culver City, California and lived in a one bedroom apartment with my family of 5. My parents were working constantly and were not able to help me with my academics.” When Gutierrez graduated, she understood how important it was for her community to continue in higher education. “I currently work for a non-profit organization, and am able to live stable. Going to college was something I never thought was possible. However, now that I know it is, I want to help encourage students in my community to go into higher education. Anything is possible.”
"We aren't rich in money, we are rich in land. We don't harvest the land, we are the land. We are one."
-Alberto Garcia