Tecla & Nahum |
I had told Tecla about an idea I had for a photography project with a working title: "Words of Wisdom: The Elders Speak". The concept is to take a portrait of the elders of the community with their words of wisdom to the youth of today. She liked the idea and offered to help me launch it in Capulalpam.
In February, 2024 I returned to Capulalpam to meet with Tecla to plan out the project. Being an indigenous community, Capulalpam is governed by members of the community in a communal fashion with its own rules and regulations. I needed to have permission to move forward with the project and she had arranged for me to meet the current leaders of the pueblo and explain my project to them. They respectfully listened to my proposal and said they liked he idea and would present it to the governing assembly. When I returned a few weeks later, I was told they accepted the proposal and would support me in my efforts to collect advice from the elders and to take their portraits. They connected me with a woman in charge of cultural affairs for the community that would be my liaison with the community and be my companion during the project.
Una limpia tradicional |
Doña Adela |
I also photographed Doña Fidela, one of the pueblo's most respected elders. She, like so many others, never left the pueblo. Her life is entwined with the history and social fabric of Capulápam.
Now that i am back in Oaxaca, I will continue the project, extending the geographic location beyond Capulálpam.
3 comments:
I look forward very much to hearing/reading what they have to say. I'm sure we will all learn a lot. Noble project!
Your work there is preserving history in motion that is to be left to the next generation. Bien hecho!
Glad you are back on your horse, travelling around, and being our eyes and apature, thank you for this gift...
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