Wednesday, September 19, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
5
Sisters turns out for celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day
By Katy Yoder
Correspondent
Organizers and commu-
nity members alike were
thrilled with the turnout for
the first Sisters commu-
nity celebration of Mexico’s
Independence Day. Red,
white, and green balloons and
streamers decorated Fir Street
Park. Following the holiday
tradition, a symbolic bell was
rung to remember the heroic
call to arms by Father Miguel
Hidalgo y Costilla in the town
of Dolores in 1810. An eight-
piece mariachi band, Los
Temerosos from Hood River,
sang and played for the smil-
ing audience.
Emcees Jodi Winnwalker
and Juan Zendejas of La
Bronca 1240 Radio addressed
the crowd of around 150
people in both English and
Spanish. The Latino com-
munity in Sisters worked
with C4C (Citizens 4
Community) and local busi-
nesses to produce Sisters’
first celebration of Mexico’s
Independence Day or Dia de
la Independencia.
Folkloric dancers swirled
in their brightly colored
dresses like flowers in the
wind.
For decades there’s been
some confusion in the U.S.
about Cinco de Mayo being
Mexico’s day of indepen-
dence. It turns out that holiday
was promoted by alcoholic
beverage companies to sell
alcohol and is not celebrated
in Mexico. September 16,
1810, is the actual day Father
Hidalgo made the first cry for
independence in a moving
speech in the Mexican town
of Dolores. It was the begin-
ning of the struggle for inde-
pendence and is a beloved
national holiday in Mexico.
Latino folks appreciated
the opportunity to celebrate
their holiday with friends
and eager celebrants from the
Sisters community. Gabriela
Mendoza attended with her
friends and was overcome
with emotion. The event was
the first time she’d celebrated
the holiday in public in the
U.S.
“We stopped a long time
ago because there was no
place to celebrate. This makes
me happy but also homesick,”
said Mendoza through local
translator Gabriella Peña.
Mendoza is also grateful
to feel Sisters embrace
its small Latino
community.
“We want to
thank the organiz-
ers and the people
who came to the
event,” she said.
According to orga-
nizer Roberto Islas there
are approximately 30 Latino
families from countries like
Mexico, Ecuador, Peru and
Columbia living in Sisters
Country. He was happy to see
the cross-cultural connection
happening in the park.
Abraham Gonzalez reiter-
ated the distinction that this
holiday is much more impor-
tant to Mexicans than Cinco
de Mayo.
“This is the core of
Mexican culture. It feels good
to have all our brothers and
sisters in one place,” he said.
Gonzalez explained that
Mexico has states and a
diverse population that differs
from one state to the next.
“My wife is from Seattle.
Mexicans are from all
over. We enjoy the cultures
together. That’s what makes
you a Mexican, embracing
the culture,” he said.
Gonzalez hopes that
events like this will help
break down stereotypes and
racism based on ignorance.
“Once we get to know
each other, we realize we
have a lot in common,” he
said.
Radio DJ Juan Zendejas
said the event was his first
time in Sisters. His Spanish
PHOTO BY JERRY BALDOCK
Folkloric dancers whirled their colorful skirts in celebration at Fir Street Park on Sunday.
language station is based in
Redmond and reaches close
to 35,000 Latinos living in
Central Oregon. He was glad
to be asked to help with the
event and looks forward to
helping make it even bigger
next year.
The three main organiz-
ers, Wendy Birnbaum, Jodi
Winnwalker and Roberto
Islas couldn’t stop smiling
as they watched children
listening to the music, danc-
ing and their families laugh-
ing and enjoying the beauti-
ful day. Three food carts pro-
vided Mexican food, and with
a portion of Main Avenue
closed for the event, diners
had a place to sit down and
truly enjoy their meal.
The intention of the event
was to recognize diversity
within a culture of inclusion.
“We wanted people to
BREWS
FOOD
9TH ANNUAL
learn about Mexican culture
by mixing them together just
like family,” said Birnbaum.
Being able to celebrate a
holiday similar to the Fourth
of July in the U.S. was greatly
appreciated by many par-
ticipants. Jorge Fernandez
enjoyed seeing both cultures
spending time together.
“I haven’t heard a maria-
chi band in 25 years,” he said
wistfully. “This is a blessing.”
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