Busuréliami Children’s Education Program Update

*Report from Program Director Randy Gingrich (Nov 22)

Busuréliami means “Inner Awakening”. Busureliami is Ralámuli for education.

Since January, 2022, our Busuréliami team has conducted over 300 classes for 148 grade school and middle school students from seven communities and conducted special events that included another 300 children, parents, traditional leaders and teachers.  

They all are singing, dancing, running, reading and writing in Ralámuli, making crafts, preparing ceremonies, learning the stories of the grandfathers, meditating in traditional ways, and much more.  A few had never participated in the traditional ways before, and others come from very traditional families. Throughout 2022, more and more parents, including some who were not participating in the community, and who were not teaching their children the traditional ways, are now engaged.  

Busureliami Program Director, Makawi, recorded 14 episodes of Busuréliami Syndicated Radio that Radio XETAR in Guachochi broadcasts to over 50,000 Tarahumara, with lessons from the Grandfathers.  

Makawi has finally found an institution, UPN, to print his textbook and workbook in Ralámuli.  Three other books in Ralamuli are in the works: Sacred Birds of the Sierra Tarahumara, a Photo Essay of traditional life in Choreachi, and a book for Makawi’s lyrics and poems in Ralámuli, advanced for publication.  Makawi has even put together a combo, Makawi y sus Atrevidos (Makawi and his Daring Ones), who perform for hundreds at times thousands of Tarahumara who dance in mass, all reinforcing the cultural identity of Tarahumara children and adults living in the Sierra and migrants in the cities of Chihuahua.

The Tarahumara Busuréliami education team has grown to eight community teachers, nine including program director, Martin “Makawi” Chavez, who is busy training and directing educational programs that vary in each community.  

We are especially proud of the Irma Chavez, a new full time Busuréliami teacher, and the children of her Tarahumara children’s choir and dance troupe who have been performing at public events.  Her efforts bring together more and more parents and community leaders in support of Busuréliami education.

Choreachi – A new classroom and cafeteria enable more children to attend school, but the majority live too far to commute on foot.  Busureliami teachers, Prudencio Ramos and Mariano Ontiveros documented with photos how the community integrates traditional teachings with classroom studies while teaching remote communties under the oak and pine.

The Community of Choreachi, teaches the children the sacred Yumari Ceremony, for rain and the blessing of living in Harmony with Nature.   Choreachi is the last refuge of Tarahumara living in an ancient forest, finally completed construction of a new classroom (three in total) and a cafeteria that assures all the children have eaten each day.  Only 65 children are able to attend school.  The rest, nearly 300 children, live too far away. However, most of the 350 grade school age children still study with Busuréliami teachers, family, and elders, under oak trees in remote rancherias.  A dormitory is planned to enable another 100 children to attend school, to be built in 2023.

Pictured below an Ariweta, girls hoop race, Colonia Gabriel Teporaca. Traditional races are competitive and can endure well over a hundred kilometers, but running is also freedom, connectivity with the earth, the animals, the spirits of the night, and the wind. Warming up for the Tarahumara Children’s Choir’s first public performance in the Plaza de Angel, Chihuahua. They sing the songs of Makawi in Ralámuli.

Tarahumara children love learning to read and write in Ralámuli, especially when dancing and running, ariweta and rarajípari are coming up next. Written Ralámuli strengthens their vocabulary and self-identity, through the words of their ancestors.

Parental participation is growing each week, as mothers and some fathers are bringing children from other Tarahumara settlements nearby.

Busureliami strengthens the Cultural Identity and Self Confidence of Tarahumara Children.

• Each week, more and more parents and children are joining Busureliami classes, learning, supporting, sharing their traditional knowledge.

• Each day, the children come to classes full of enthusiasm and excitement.

• Busureliami is the first opportunity for several urban Tarahumara to learn Ralámuli, and they express themselves in Ralamuli with greater confidence each week.

• Busureliami is forming a new generation of leaders with their hearts dedicated to the sacred nature of childhood.

Irma and Luisa

Busureliami teachers and students often consult with the elders. Luisa Palma Bustillos, 90, is from the Community of Sisoguichi, Municipo of Bocoyna. She recently moved to Chihuahua City due to health concerns. Luisa never had the opportunity to go to school. She spent much of her childhood caring for goats and cattle. She later had five children, most of whom now live in Chihuahua.

Luisa was a great runner in the traditional ariweta hoop race. She participated in all the great races in her community. She laments that today, there are no longer ariweta or rarajipari (ball) races in her community.

Luisa has witnessed the decline of cultural traditions with each generation. Much of the loss is due to the fact that many families now speak Spanish at home, seldom Ralámuli. The children lose their traditions and language in the schools. She thinks the school system is an invasion of their culture. The children take pride in their education. They often feel superior, but they are losing their culture.

Please help Support Busuréliami Education for Tarahumara Children: You can do this through True Messages by indicating your donation / Korima is for Busureliame or you can donate to our friends Tierra Nativa through their US nonprofit partner Environmental Entrepreneurs (which then also allows your donation to be tax deductible) . Randy, Makawi and the team can be reached at www.tierranativa.org