Seventh Generation Rising Performed At Kennedy

On Oct. 24, as John F. Kennedy’s Fall Fest started to come to an end, the sound of drums filled the air as the group Seventh Generation Rising, an indigenous organization, started their surprise performance. Seventh Generation Rising would show a series of dances that shared their unique culture, traditions, and prayers.

The organization was founded in 2011 by Guillermo Aranda, a well known muralist and educator on indigenous culture, who was even named 2021 Artist of the Year by Santa Cruz County. Aranda would pass on the organization to Eric Oztochane Walther, current Executive Director and Acting President of Seventh Generation Rising.

The organization does not only do ceremonial dances and rituals, but actively dedicate themselves to support the indigenous community through connection and restoration of both land and culture. Walther describes Seventh Generation Rising’s work as “improving the lives of urban indigenous youth and families”.

Michelle Ruiz-Esparza, a JFK staff member, danced alongside the group, as she herself practices Danza Azteca, or traditional Aztec style of dance. She described what she hopes that the audience would take away from their performance.

“We definitely hope that there was some sort of connection with themselves, some thought of their ancestors, a connection with their culture in the terms of remembering who they are,” explained Ruiz-Esparza.

During the ceremonial dances, a special incense was burned, called Copal, which is a specially harvested tree resin from a spiritually important species of tree in Mexico.

The incorporating incense was integral to the performance, as both the dance and the incense tie together.

“What we believe is that when we have it in the sahumador [incense holder] and light that fire, which a woman is supposed to carry because she is the caretaker of that fuego [fire], it is a very specific prayer and intention,” said Walther. “Because our danza is our prayers in motion, we are connecting with that altar and that fuego and smoke and sending our prayers and intentions up into the cosmos, into the universe, out into the atmosphere so that it benefits not just humanity, but all of creation.”

Certain ceremonies can have dances that last for up to four to five hours, so dancers must maintain a mentality to keep themselves focused. Ruiz-Esparza commented on what keeps her going during performances.

“I give thanks for the creator, for another day, for my ancestors, and I just try to do my best to deliver the message. I hope that everybody is feeling it in the sense that something’s being ignited in them, their connection with themselves, their heart, their fire,” stated Ruiz-Esparza.

Each dancer wore traditional regalia, made intricately over time. For example, Walther made most of his regalia from scratch. From doing the brass to the leather to the headdress, he spent time meticulously building his regalia by hand.

“Over time our regalia come to be. We collect materials over time to build them. We don’t start off with these [elaborate regalia],” explained Walther. “We start off humble with white linen and then you have to earn the right to wear something like this.”

Each dance performed carried its own distinct meaning and symbolization.

“We did four different dances. One of them was an offering to our ancestors. The second one was one that reflects the duality of all of creation. The polar opposites, the negative and the positive, the dark and the light, the hot and the cold. The third dance was about the spiritual hunter. The person is seeking wisdom and knowledge to bring back to our people so they can be nourished by the knowledge and energy. The last one was a warrior dance. That one is about the warrior spirit, being a warrior for your community. That can look a lot of different ways too. It does not necessarily have to be physical. You can be a spiritual warrior or an academic warrior,” elaborated Walther.

Ruiz-Esparza hopes that the performance left an impact on those in attendance, and that it will open up more opportunities for the group.

“I would love to have them come back, even if it’s not at the Fall Fest. If there’s any other events that they can come to share their culture again, the drumbeat and all, the essence of it,” remarked Ruiz-Esparza.

She feels that inviting such groups to share their culture at the school is “a great opportunity for the Kennedy community to get to see a new cultural way of being."

Photo by Khanh Do

Photo by Khanh Do | Many tuned in to watch the special guest performance by Seventh Generation Rising.

Photo by Gurtej Singh

Photo by Gurtej Singh