Sandra Carmona is an Artist of Many Mediums and also the Captain General of Calpulli Omeyocan, a multi-generational and multi-cultural Mexica/ Native American dance school, whose goal is to continue presenting and preserving Indigenous history by bringing culture, rhythm and dance to diverse communities of San Diego county. Her leadership role among the dance group requires that she not only honor and understand, but also reflect on the various traditions, ceremonies and ways of life of Indigenous knowledge systems. La Capitana, is someone whose skill sets include proficiency in a range of artistic mediums that give her the opportunity to be in close contact and in communication with community members of diverse backgrounds. She is currently working on projects that include creating murals along the US-Mexico border that call attention to structural violence, inequality and displacement.
Karla: How do you find balance between individual and community worlds, while grappling with the tensions of individual and communal ways of being?
Sandra: I have my own beliefs and the community has an array of different beliefs. They specifically invite us because their religion and part of their religious beliefs includes danza. For me, it's about having a really strong identity that believes for myself - that it doesn't matter what other people believe they can’t change me. I do this work with the idea that it's cultural, identity, political and religious. So I really have to take a deep look at myself and ask, “for what purpose am I doing this? A common thread. That’s what I am looking for - a common thread. That one thing we can all connect to. For example, I’m an atheist. But a lot of the work that we do revolves around religion and that's a really fine line to walk between you and the community.
Karla: I remember that time we did the procession and then danza, at the house of the lady who was faithful to nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, a super Catholic celebration. I remember thinking why are we doing this?
Sandra: But the whole purpose of us being there was that tie. To find a common thread, or that one thing we can connect to as a community that had nothing to do with religion.
Karla: How do you think we can create equitable learning, collaborative environments in which we and others can feel empowered and inspired to participate and contribute as our authentic selves?
Sandra: I think by leaving our personal biases aside. And then another thing is by just being accessible to the community. Por ejemplo, tu sabes que nosotro no cobramos (For example, you know we don’t charge) and we are out there in our community. It has to be accessible for them. It can’t cost anything. It has to be within walking distance. There’s a lot of barriers for a lot of us. It can’t be inaccessible. It’s like in our danza group. We start practice at 7:00 p.m and we do it in my backyard so that people can come and be part of it. I think that makes it equitable.
Karla: How do we honor people's lived experience and interconnections and the knowledge that they bring to the table?
Sandra: I’m a big believer of letting people believe what they want to believe. Letting them be comfortable. When we talk about la Virgen (the mother) a lot of people are into that. Others don’t believe in that so I totally respect that. I talk about it from a maternal shift. We have to be respectful too and understand that people believe what they believe, even if we don't. It starts by setting those ground rules. We're gonna explore it. We are here to present and let people decide.
Karla: That's beautiful actually. You're right. We're not here to convertir a nadie (to convert anyone). We are just here to give of our energy.
Sandra: I actually was talking about you on Saturday - we had an event. We have a new danzante. They identify as they. They were trying to get permission on what to wear. They told me, “so, it's like this, like this, like this?”. I told them, wear whatever you want to wear, as long as it is traditional to our people. And they were like – “ what?!?”. So, then another group member said, “ yeah, in our group you pretty much wear whatever you wanna wear as long as it's indigenous. Historically quote unquote correct”, and then the group member said. “like Karla!” So, the new member says, “who is Karla?” I said she is my friend, she danced with us. She was one of our drummers. She dressed in a male atuendo (attire). That’s how she wanted to make an offering. How she felt comfortable. And so they were like, “And you were ok with it?”. And I said yes because it gave her so much strength. Llegó un día como un complete Ocelot (one day she showed up as a complete jaguar). The other group members were like, “oh yeah that was awesome”. Again, it goes back to that idea of why are we limiting ourselves? No, you must dress and do whatever comes out of your body. We must get away from those ways of thinking.
Karla: Thank you so much for taking the time and speaking to me on these things because it’s what I'm working on and moving forward with. I'm always applauding you even if I'm in Colorado at the moment and can't come home. But you know you are always on my mind. Your children are always with me. I still practice, I have a little tiny drum and I go to the river and practice. Sometimes I'm laughing because I'm playing fuego (fire) and I remember how we used to play it and dance to it over and over again. I can picture myself dancing it. For me, being part of the group did so much healing for my soul and for my body. I don't want to lose the knowledge that I gained while being part of the group.
Sandra: You are still part of it. I see that you are out there representing and creating space for us. Being out there among the Northern natives. You are there repping and I really admire that.