Ayllu - Community
April - 2020
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Our Andean culture and traditions are rooted in building and nourishing community. We share food, music, stories and more as a community. During these troubling times, encouraged to practice physical distancing, is very difficult for the needs our hearth and soul. We are guiding our community through these challenging times as best as we can.
Ayllu means community in Runa Simi. Ayllu - Comunidad - Community. This year, we are embracing our Ayllu, near and far, sharing, as we always do, to build towards a future that respects, honors and celebrates life.
As we all practice patience during uncertainty, we are well aware that this crisis is affecting all of us, emotionally, physically, economically. Our Ayllu is working very hard to ensure our students and their families well-being.
We will also be sharing with our supporters, allies, partners and international community, what is happening in Peru and stories, songs, photos and words to carry us into a hopeful tomorrow.
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Learning never ends - no matter what
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Coronavirus has us reshuffling according to what we are told by the government. Online learning is simply not possible for all students. We are in awe and grateful to the length that our teachers have gone to communicate with the families of our students in order to facilitate learning, assignments and instructions of what to do. We have been inspired by the results. Surely, we look forward to the day of learning together, but until then, learning never ends - no matter what.
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Earth Day 2020: Ayully Kusi Kawsay Alumni: Joel
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Kusi Ñan (Happy Path) is an Organic Farm project that was created by the first graduating class of the Kusi Kawsay Andean School in 2012. One of the students, Joel, has continued to farm ever since and now runs his own farm. Tending to and cultivating the land, is one of Joel's passions. During during these trying times, Joel is one of many not receiving a monetary income but thankfully he is able to provide for his brothers and parents through his vegetables and fruits. Joel is like a doctor, he provides organic, healthy, nutritious foods - to heal and nourish our bodies. We are proud to provide a valuable education woven in with honoring the earth and are proud of our what are graduate are doing.
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Our Ayllu: Aspen Mirabal - Taos , NM
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* 2017 Aspen sharing her Taos Pueblo traditions at Kusi Kawsay Andean School during our Solstice Inti Raymi Celebration
In our last newsletter, we asked to hear from you and how you are coping during these times. The invitation remains open. If you are able to, send us a message or an email. During these times, positive memories are like medicine. Leave a comment or write us an email (development@kusikawsay.org) with your memories of sharing experiences with us or one way that we put a smile on your face. Let us know if we have your permission to share some of these uplifting and encouraging memories. Thank you. We look forward to hearing from you.
Dear Kusi Kawsay,
I would like to take the time to express my deepest gratitude. Thank you for supporting the children of the skies and Valley below. I will forever support this school as long as the children stay smiling, singing, and creating art. Urpillay Sonqollay.
I am taking the opportunity to write because of the really cool suggestion made to write! I love you all, whom ever is reading this- I love you. Because you published and sent out this newsletter, making us all feel good and inspired.
~Here on Taos Pueblo I continue to work at the Health and Community Services Dept. although I am not in physical contact with the many families I see on a weekly basis, I have found my self on the phone and computer now adjusting to the new norm- hopefully only temporary! To my knowledge we have no cases of the virus on the pueblo, but in the town of Taos, we have three. Yesterday I was shocked to realize that all entrances that feed into the tribal lands have been blocked with massive piles of dirt. A tribal police officer flashes his lights at the only entrance and exit onto our lands, checking each person that comes and goes. As a tourist destination and a place of immense mana, or power, I know you understand that we are constantly struggling with the traffic of trespassers, individuals taking ownership over land and sacred sites that aren’t theirs, its a common thing, right… So only the right precautions are being done, in theory.
My family is well, Robert, Dawn, Kona, and Masa, The girls and my dad are home, eating, dancing, prepping the soil and sorting the seeds to plant, tuning up the tractors, mending the work tools. Although both my mom and I are working, we too long for the time away from work to settle, be still, and nurture our heart. I think writing this email is helping me to reflect and take a step back to express gratitude and hopefully gift my words to you, my reader. And that feels good!
Although I don’t have an inspiring story that will knock your sock off, I do want you to know that every waking moment, I am cultivating good vibes and positivity for our friends and family at Kusi Kawsay. I/we will visit soon once this passes. Please know that we aren’t alone as tribal people, and those who have helped to support our tribal people, my love extends out to you.
Thank you/Tah ah,
Aspen
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We are grateful for your support. Thank you for accompanying us throughout this journey. These are very intense times but we are confident that, as nature teaches us to be patient, we too will get through these challenges. What truly encourages us it that we did not wait until a crisis unfolded to plant our seeds, cultivate our gardens, celebrate our traditions of reciprocity and honoring the earth, educating generations of indigenous youth and keeping our conscious community thriving. This crisis is teaching us many lessons and we are are committed to a balanced relationship with Pachamama.
**We are in need of a translator Spanish - English / English - Spanish to effectively share these beautiful messages. Can you help us out or know someone who could? Reach out to us at info@kusikawsay.org**
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* First Day of School - March 2020
"Urpillay Sonqollay" - Quechua phrase to express Gratitude!
"LLaqtakunaq atipayninwan, Teqsimuyuntinta kuyuchisunchis"
When the community works together, we will turn this world around.
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