On Sept 15-16, Dr. Cintli and Tania Pacheco will speak to this ancient story - found in several Mexican Indigenous codices - including La tira de la peregrinacion - that speak to their departure from Aztlan and Chicomoztoc, the seven caves. They will speak to whether this migration actually began in the Salt Lake region. This program is made possible with support from the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Utah, Antelope Island State Park, and Utah Humanities.
2021-2022 Academic Year Events
Humanities in the Wild: Aztlan
Join Dr. Roberto Cintli Rodriguez and Tania Pachedco on Antelope Island for a deep dive into the history and folklore about Aztlan, the legendary homeland of the Mexica. Participants will take a two hour hike with Dr. Rodriguez and reflect on the importance of Aztlan to contemporary conversations about place, identity, and social justice. This program is made possible with support from the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Utah, Antelope Island State Park, and Utah Humanities.
The Salt Lake region in the Aztec-Mexica Migration Story Codices and historic maps:
Facts or Conjecture?
Dr. Cintli, emeritus associate professor at the University of Arizona and Tania Pacheco, a healer and Yoga instructor are a writing/editing/translation team that examine the original cultures of the continent, including maiz or Maya-Nahua culture. Part of their work and research includes the topic of origins and migrations. A generation ago, Dr Cintli was led to Antelope Island, based on the reading of the codices and several historic maps, which indicated that from the Salt Lake region, the ancient Mexican Indians departed from there to find their empire. These maps included the 1804 Humboldt, the 1768 Alzate and the 1728 Barreiro maps, amongst others. Additionally, Tania, a healer and Yoga instructor, has translated both of Dr Cintli’s books by the University of Arizona press, Our Sacred Maiz is our Mother: Indigeneity and belonging in the Americas (2014), and Yolqui: a Warrior Summoned from the Spirit World: Testimonios on violence (2019). She also selected the writings for his upcoming Writing 50 Years amongst the Gringos (Aztlan Libre Press Oct 1, 2021), which she will also be translating. The island is purportedly the site of seven caves.
This program is made possible with support from the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Utah, Antelope Island State Park, and Utah Humanities.
Voice and Inequality: A Book Celebration with Professor Claudio Holzner
Many countries have a long history of excluding poor people from politics. Holzner and co-author Carew Boulding find, however, that in recent years a majority of Latin American countries have achieved near equality of participation across wealth groups, and in some cases poor people participate more than wealthier individuals. How can this be? Voice and Inequality provides important insights about how the elusive goal of political equality can be achieved even in contexts of elevated poverty and inequality.
Comment by Professors Laura Gamboa and Matthew Burbank followed by discussion with the author.
Be Global Ready
Learn more about global opportunities on campus, such as majors, learning abroad, scholarships, internships, and more. Get your passport stamped and receive free international food.
This program is made possible with support from the Asia Center, Center for Latin American Studies, International Studies, Middle East Studies, Learning Abroad, Career and Professional Development, World Languages and Cultures, Hinckley Institute of Politics, and Business, Health and Prosperity at Eccles.
Land of Cranes and the Moon Within with Aida Salazar
Join the Glendale Branch of the Salt Lake City Public Library for an evening with the powerful Aida Salazar, author of Land of Cranes and the Moon Within.
Nine-year-old Betita knows she is a crane. Papi has told her the story, even before her family fled to Los Angeles to seek refuge from cartel violence in Mexico. He says that Betita and her family are cranes that have returned to their promised land, Aztlán, land of the cranes. But one day, Papi is arrested by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) and deported to Mexico. Betita and her pregnant mother are left behind on their own, but soon they too are detained and must learn to survive in a family detention camp. Even in cruel and inhumane conditions, Betita finds heart in her own poetry and in the community she and her mother find in the camp. Their voices fly above the hatred keeping them caged, but each day threatens to tear them down lower than they ever thought they could be. Will Betita and her family ever be whole again?
From the author of The Moon Within comes a heartbreaking story in verse of those subjected to unimaginable cruelty, yet who still find the hope to dream and carry on.
This program is made possible with support from The Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Utah, The Salt Lake City Public Library, and Utah Humanities.
A Celebration of Children'sand YA Latin American and Latinx Literature at the Library
of Congress
Join the Hispanic Reading Room at the Library of Congress and Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP) in a virtual celebration of children’s and YA Latin American and Latinx literature. Hear from authors and illustrators amplifying stories and voices from across Latin American and Latinx communities. Panelists Angela Burke Kunkel, Aida Salazar, Raúl The Third, Sili Recio, and Yamile Saied Méndez will share their creative processes, discuss where they find inspiration, and how they address difficult themes about Latin American and Latinx experiences in their work for young readers. We invite families, educators, and students to take part in this unique celebration during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Conversaciones y Relexiones sobre la Cultura Nahua
Este encuentro busca hacer diálogo entre académicos sobre la cultura náhuatl para discutir temas actuales e históricos. En esta presentación se invitan a tres especialistas en la materia quienes se destacan por sus investigaciones en el ámbito histórico, en los estudios mesoamericanos y los estudios coloniales sobre México. En primer lugar, se inicia de la educación formal que se buscaba por las mujeres de una comunidad de Chicontepec y la transmisión de la cultura materna a las nuevas generaciones. Enseguida se presenta el tema de los sueños como una parte asociada con la tradición oral de las comunidades nahuas de hoy en las regiones de Tlaxcala y Puebla. Para finalizar se presentan las obras de teatro en náhuatl producidos durante la época colonial en referencia al diálogo que existe entre el Cristo indígena y los personajes femeninos.
Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Information Sessions
Come learn more about Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) scholarships! The online application will be available in November, 2021 and is due on Friday, January 28, 2022 for both Summer 2022 (6-10 week intensive language programs abroad or in the US- perhaps virtual depending on travel restrictions) and Academic Year 2022-2023 (2-semester language and area study at the University of Utah) awards. Only one application is needed if you are applying for both awards.
10th Annual Filmexico: 2021 Contemporary Mexican Films
Filméxico 2021 lineup will feature prominent works by Afro Mexican and Indigenous filmmakers, as well as seasoned, new and local talent. We will also present a series of panel discussions with Mexican filmmakers, Utah community leaders and cultural binational specialists and allies.
LEARN MORE ABOUT the movies and Filmexico
Viva Peru Dance
Kick off International Education Week with a lively outdoor performance of traditional Peruvian culture.
This show features the story of María Landó—a resilient woman journeying in search of her identity. In this voyage she finds herself submerged in the worlds of Peruvian poetry, music, and dance.
Florentine Codex: Life and Art of the Nahuatl World
The Consulate of Mexico in Salt Lake City in coordination with the University of Utah and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) presents the virtual event "The Florentine Codex: Life and Artof the Nahuatl world." The life of the pre-Hispanic Nahuatl people was painstakingly documented by Fray Bernardino de Sahagún along with local scribes, grammatists and painters. The resulting work was called "General History of the Things of New Spain" commonly known as "The Florentine Codex". Two extraordinary speakers from different institutions will participate in the cultural activity:
- Specialist Diana Magaloni Kerpel, Institute of Aesthetics Research (UNAM) and Art of the Ancient Americas Program Director at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) will present "Colors of the new world: Florentine Codex artists and writers"
- Specialist Abelardo de la Cruz, University of Utah professor and researcher de la Universidad de Utah, specialist of the native Nahuatl language, presenting "Nahua Voices in the 16th Century: A Source of Cultural Continuity"
Both speakers will reveal the peculiarities of the Florentine Codex and their experiences around their research on it.
Going Global Career Panel 2021
Each year International and Area Studies in conjnction with the Career and Professional Development Center at the University of Utah coordinates our Going Global event to highlight the global careers, international experiences, and language skills and how those skills and experiences have benefitted them in the workplace. The career panel lasts one hour, in which panelists will answer questions about their careers and the value of global experiences. Following the panel there will be a one-hour networking session. Each networker will be in a Zoom breakout room, and attendees can move from room-to-room freely to meet with each networker.
SEE WHO WILL BE OUR PANELISTS AND NETWORKERS