Announcement by Purepecha regarding the Symbols of the Nation
Announcement by P'urhepecha regarding the Symbols of the Nation, February, 2011 (P'urepecha Territory is in Michoacan, Mexico.
By Tony Belcourt
Kurhamukperakua Tamapu T’erunchitiecheri. Council of Former Freighters de Ch’upiri Jimbaniri.
The Xiranhua Kuskua radio is part of the P’urhépecha Symbols; it will promote the Ch’upiri Jimbani Ceremony (New Fire)
The Council of the Ch’upiri Jimbani (New Fire) Ceremony Celebration, decided to make use of the right that supports the Ireta P’urhépecha of using the air to support collective communication of the radio that has been installed in this Xarakuaru locality (Jarácuaro), this tool will serve to break the informative isolation of the communities.
The radio is a modern element that adds to the symbols to promote this festivity that promotes the strengthening of rituals, ceremonies and pre-Hispanic practices, as well as traditional contemporary elements that can be useful in the cultural, social, spiritual, educational and organizational life of the P’urhépecha.
As part of the delivery of the P’urhépecha Symbols done by the Tamapu T’erunchietiecha de Urhúpani (Uruapan’s former freighters) to the Jarácuaro community, radio Xiranhua Kuskua (The singing of Our Roots), which is located in 105.5 FM, was launched by members of the Council of the Ch’upiri Jimbani Ceremony Celebration. The radio station which has coverage to the shore of the Pátzcuaro Lake, will stay in the locality during a one year period, which is the time that the symbols will remain there; then they will be moved to the location that will be selected as the new venue of the Ch’upiri Jimbani celebration.
The role of the radio will be directed by the editorial thought created by members of the Council. It is an instrument of communication to serve our Ireta Tua Anapu. The spoken word of the elders will be one of the important aspects in the radio programming to strengthen the p’urhépecha thought and language.
The Council has resolved that in this new project there is no place for discrimination towards any person. “Our informative commitment is and it will always be with Juchari Ireta. Government and religious Institutions, political parties and other entities outside Juchari Ireta, will have a space in this radio, but only to answer on their work in the communities, which often are negative actions.
With the above, we reaffirm that our remaining Indigenous peoples, as a result of the colonization, have the right to practice and revitalize our ancient ways of life, as well we have all the right to maintain, protect and develop all of those past, present and future manifestations of our culture, as well as the use of the resources: land, water, air, located in our territory, legacy from our ancestors, as established by the Constitution of the United Mexican States, in its article 2, section VI, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Articles: 9, 11, 12 and 16.
THE NEW FIRE
The Ch’upiri Jimbani (New Fire) ceremony, is celebrated by the P’urhépecha, each year on February 1st and this means the beginning of Jimbani Uéxurhini ( P’urhépecha’s New Year), a ritual that commemorates the history of the ancient P’urhépecha’s People, where they had a great ritual to the Fire, to ask for divine forces to help them direct the war, to win battles and extend the God Kurikaueri’s territory. At present this holiday symbolizes the unity and strengthening the contemporary P'urhépecha people.
This celebration takes place in different opportunities in some of the communities of the P’urhépecha’s territories: Sierra, Cañada, Lacustre y Ciénega. This is the main annual celebration (K’uinchekua) which brings together members of the P’urhépecha’s community; the P’urhépecha of the four sub-regions of the states get together and develop activities of spiritual, traditional, cultural and artistic character and which revalue their identity.
This P’urhépecha festivity was prohibited by the Spanish Crown after the assassination of the last P’urhépecha leader, Tangaxoan II, on February 14, 1530 by the Spanish conquer Nuño de Guzmán, but it was recovered 28 years ago.
Currently, the communities that are part of the Principals Council who organize this festivity are: Tzintzuntzan, Ihuatzio, Nurio, Tzirondaro, Angahuan, Pichataro, Tacuro, Santa Fe, Cheranastico, Ichupio, Cocucho, Ucazanastacua, Tarecuato, Puácuaro, Sevina, Janitzio, San Lorenzo Narheni, Tirindaro, Cheran, Carapan, Nuevo Parangaricutiro, Pátzcuaro, Caltzontzin, Patamban, Santo Tomas, Purénchecuaro, Chilchota ts’irapu y Barrios de Uruapan.
Xarakuaru (Jarácuaro), Michoacán; Month P’urhejkukuarhu, day 28, Year Urhúpani.
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Procession in Jaracuaro starts along the canal.
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The Jaracuaro P'urhépecha is waiting for the Procession to Arrive.
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The Flag arrives - the 1st Symbol.
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Procession arrives at the town square.
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The Procession arrives in the town.
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The Smudge Is Lit.
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The Speeches Begin.
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Launch of Xiranhua Kuskua 105.5 FM in Jaracuaro, Michoacan, Mexico.
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Dancing Begins.
