A group of Northern Arizona University researchers focused on sustainable practices, geography and earth sciences found something unexpected during their work in Central America: the effects of drug trafficking are leaving deep scars on a sensitive landscape. They call the…
Category: Cultural
Bilingual report: NAU to present César Chávez Celebration March 28 through 31
FLAGSTAFF — The Northern Arizona University College of Social & Behavioral Sciences’ Civic Service Institute presents a César Chávez Celebration starting with a “César Chávez Blood Drive” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, March 28 at the Du Bois —…
Bilingual report: NAU’s Theatre Department to present Federico Garcia Lorca’s ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’ in Winslow from March 28 through April 6
WINSLOW — Northern Arizona University’s Theatre Department will perform Federico Garcia Lorca’s “The House of Bernarda Alba” from March 28 through April 6 in a rare, site-specific performance on the grounds of the historic La Posada Hotel and Gardens, 303…
March cover story / Portada: Health-care enrollment deadline nears
March 31 is the deadline for signing up under the Affordable Care Act By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ The days are counting down until the end of the open enrollment period on March 31 for the Health Insurance Marketplace…
Commentary / Comentario: Si se (something)!
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ The first time I saw him was during a march for farmworkers rights in the early 1980s. I was a novice community college photojournalism student and we had decided to cover his protest march…
Local / Locales
The City of Flagstaff reports that the Army Corps of Engineers has allocated $1.6 million for the Rio de Flag Flood Control Project. “We have worked tirelessly to secure funding for the Rio de Flag flood control project. Part of…
Health / Salud: Imagining a better health-care system
By David Parra / Associate state director — AARP Arizona Life is most enjoyable when you are healthy. A simple headache alters your mood, and a more serious illness can make life miserable for us and our families. Our health…
SB1070 policy meeting to be held Feb. 6 at Killip Elementary
FLAGSTAFF — A community meeting to discuss a change in the Flagstaff Police Department’s policy on SB1070 will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 at W.F. Killip Elementary School in the Sunnyside Neighborhood of Flagstaff. The meeting will include…
Commentary / Comentario: An opportunity to talk
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ For community policing, it’s a fine balance between gathering information to investigate crimes and maintaining trust with a segment of society that previously viewed law enforcement in other places with suspicion, if not downright…
NAIC to present ‘Celebration of Community’ fundraiser on Jan. 26
FLAGSTAFF — The Northern Arizona Interfaith Council will present its “Celebration of Community” fundraiser from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26 at the Orpheum Theater, 15 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff. The event is designed to bring the community together…
January cover story / Portada: Politics, culture dominate 2013 regional scene
Hispanic community plays key role in celebrations, immigration reform effort By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ The procession began with the lighting of more than 150 luminarias around Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel near downtown Flagstaff and ended with a…
Feast Day celebrated Dec. 11-12 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Flagstaff
FLAGSTAFF — Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces will participate in a series of events in December to celebrate the progress of the renovation project in the basement of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The group will participate in the traditional Our Lady of…
Travel / Viajes: Deer or Los Matachines Dance at Taos Pueblo Festivities?
By Stacey Wittig / Vagabonding Chica – Travel Writer Speculation abounds among northern New Mexicans this time of year. Will the Deer Dance be performed at Taos Pueblo for the Christmas Day ceremonial dance? Or will it be Los Matachines…
Bilingual report: ‘Health Care Information Night’ to be held Nov. 19 in Flagstaff
FLAGSTAFF — A health care information night, with information presented primarily in Spanish, will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 at Restauración en Cristo Congregation, 624 S. O’Leary St. (en Spring Hill Baptist Church), Flagstaff. Have you had trouble…
Bilingual report: ‘Health Care Information Night’ to be held Nov. 21 in Flagstaff
FLAGSTAFF — A bilingual health care information night will be presented from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 at the Killip Elementary School Library, 2300 E. 6th Ave., Flagstaff. Have you had trouble getting health insurance? How does the…
Arizona Speaks! gathering in Sedona on Nov. 21 to support immigration reform
SEDONA — The Northern Arizona Interfaith Council (NAIC) will be participating in Arizona Speaks!, a statewide series of assemblies calling for federal immigration reform, at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 at Church of the Red Rocks, 54 Bowstring Drive, Sedona. Simultaneous assemblies will…
Winslow gets into the spirit with Día de los Muertos celebration
From AmigosNAZ staff reports WINSLOW — Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) returned to Winslow on Nov. 2 , 2013 when Snowdrift Art Space, Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces and the Winslow Chamber of Commerce presented the lively celebration of remembering the departed…
Día de los Muertos celebrated in Winslow
From AmigosNAZ staff reports WINSLOW — Snowdrift Art Space, Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces and the Winslow Chamber of Commerce presented a Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration on Nov. 2 , 2013 at Snowdrift Art Space in downtown Winslow. Members…
Northern Arizona community honors heritage with altars, closing ceremony at Celebraciones de la Gente
From AmigosNAZ staff reports FLAGSTAFF — The day began with a sugar skull-making workshop and progressed to musical and dance performances and educational programs, concluding with the moving closing ceremonies at the 10th annual Celebraciones de la Gente, presented on Oct.…
Capturing the spirit of 2013 Celebraciones de la Gente
From AmigosNAZ staff reports FLAGSTAFF — From the creation of family altars, and a last-minute courtyard wide Oaxaca-style cemetery scene, to the moving closing ceremonies including the blessing of the altars, members of the Museum of Northern Arizona and the public…
Musical, educational programs highlight opening day for public at Celebraciones de la Gente
From AmigosNAZ staff reports FLAGSTAFF — Musical and dance performances, lectures, along with arts and crafts demonstrations highlighted the opening day for the public at the 10th annual Celebraciones de la Gente, presented on Oct. 26, 2013 by the Museum…
“2013 Coconino County Community and Family Vitality Survey” now available in Spanish
FLAGSTAFF — The Laboratory for Applied Social Research (LASR) at Northern Arizona University is conducting a survey to better understand the community’s “capacity to live, grow, and develop with a purposeful existence.” It was announced this week that the survey will…
Community enjoys opening night at 10th annual Celebraciones de la Gente
AmigosNAZ staff report FLAGSTAFF — Despite of some last-minute excitement regarding an under-renovation courtyard, Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces and the Museum of Northern Arizona successfully celebrated opening night for museum members of the 10th anniversary of Celebraciones de la Gente on Oct.…
Bilingual commentary: Residents begin first of many battles
By Roxana Cardiel De Niz and Anamaria Velasco Ortiz The community at Arrowhead Village Trailer Park in the center of Flagstaff is on the verge of being destroyed over a student housing development. This project is one that Landmark Properties,…
Commentary / Comentario: Making the case for ethnic studies
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ As he surveyed the room, Sean Arce hit the play button and the video kicked in on the screen. Students, high school students, could be seen on the video rushing to sit and chain…
Travel / Viajes: The charms Rancho de Chimayó
By Stacey Wittig / Vagabonding Chica – Travel Writer Pale pink, lighter than the color of ballet slippers, is not a color that I expect to find in a Mexican restaurant. Yet I am sitting outdoors at a table dressed…
MEChA de NAU will hold a Día de los Muertos procession on Nov. 2
FLAGSTAFF — MEChA de NAU will hold a Día de los Muertos procession and celebration starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Murdock Community Center, 203 E. Brannen Ave., Flagstaff. The procession will then move to the NAU Student…
Snowdrift Art Space in Winslow to present Día de los Muertos celebration on Nov. 2
WINSLOW — Snowdrift Art Space, Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces, and the Winslow Chamber of Commerce will present a Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration from 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 at 120 W. Second St., downtown…
Ethnic Studies ban discussion to be held Oct. 30 at NAU
FLAGSTAFF — Sean Arce, former director of the Mexican American Studies (MAS) Program at the Tucson Unified School District, will talk about his role in challenging the ban on Ethnic Studies in Arizona at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 at…
Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces gets ready for 10th annual Celebraciones de la Gente starting Oct. 25
AmigosNAZ staff report FLAGSTAFF — Members of Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces will be busy late this week setting up their family altars / ofrendas, stringing papel picado and getting everything ready for the 10th annual Celebraciones de la Gente, which will begin…
Katia Cardenal to perform in free concert on Oct. 24 at Ashurst Auditorium at Northern Arizona University
FLAGSTAFF — Katia Cardenal, formerly lead vocalist of the world-renowned Nicaraguan New Song group, Guardabarranco, will perform a free concert at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at Northern Arizona University, Ashurst Auditorium, Flagstaff, concert organizers reported in a media release. Cardenal,…
Border Songs / No More Deaths benefit concert, featuring Katia Cardenal, to be held Oct. 25
FLAGSTAFF — Artists associated with Border Songs — a double CD of music and spoken word, in English and Spanish — will give a benefit concert for the southern Arizona humanitarian group, No More Deaths / No Más Muertes at 7 p.m. Friday,…
Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival (Oct. 9-13) to feature some entries with Latino flavor
FLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival (Oct. 9-13) will feature some entries with a Latino flavor. The Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival’s mission is to provide a cultural alternative to the mainstream commercial film experience and to celebrate, promote, nurture and…
Hojarasca entertains audience at NAU on Oct. 1
FLAGSTAFF — The audience was treated to a creative mixture of contemporary Andean music by the Colombian musical trio Hojarasca, which performed on Oct. 1, 2013 at Gathering Room of the Native American Cultural Center at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. The…
Flagstaff City Council approves resolution supporting comprehensive immigration reform
Supporters hope 6-1 vote will spark other cities in Arizona to follow their lead FLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff City Council, by a vote of 6-1, approved a resolution supporting comprehensive immigration reform during a meeting held on Oct. 1 at…
October Cover Story / Portada: A celebration of culture, families
Celebraciones de la Gente returns to Museum of Northern Arizona on Oct. 26-27 By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ As Armando Gonzalez and Theresa Thomas tell it, about a dozen years ago Flagstaff’s Latino community seemed on the verge of…
Folklorico dance groups from Oaxaca perform locally courtesy of Ballet Folklórico de Colores — Flagstaff, sponsors
FLAGSTAFF — Ballet Folklórico de Colores — Flagstaff presented a free performance by Grupo Folklorico de Oaxaca Asociación Civil, directora Teresa Ochoa, and Compañía de Danza Regional de Puebla, director Jorge Armando Castenada, on Sept. 19, 2013 at Sinagua Middle School Auditorium…
Flagstaff City Council to vote Oct. 1 on resolution supporting comprehensive immigration reform
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ FLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff City Council will vote on Tuesday, Oct. 1 on a resolution supporting comprehensive immigration reform. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 211 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff. Nearly…
Bilingual report: Colombian musical trio Hojarasca to perform on Oct. 1 at NAU’s Native American Cultural Center
FLAGSTAFF — A concert of contemporary Andean music by the Colombian musical trio Hojarasca will be presented at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1 at Gathering Room of the Native American Cultural Center (building #14), Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. This trio,…
Reminder: PBS to air Latino Americans: ‘War and Peace’ on Sept. 24
PBS to broadcast Latino Americans: “War and Peace” at 8 p.m./7 p.m. Central on Tuesday, Sept. 24. The film by Daniel McCabe and John J. Valadez focuses on the Latino contribution in World War II and the birth of civil…
Sunnyside celebrates 10th annual Fiesta de Independencia
Click on the image to see a slideshow from the 2013 Fiesta de Independencia. Pause on photo to see a caption. AmigosNAZ staff report FLAGSTAFF — Sprinkers going off in the early afternoon almost watering the public address system and…
Area residents enjoy the outdoors with return of Camp Moreno
Click on the image to see a slideshow from Camp Moreno at Sunset Crater. Pause on photo to see a caption. AmigosNAZ staff report FLAGSTAFF — A brief rain and hail storm hit the O’Leary Group campground at Sunset Crater…
Flagstaff City Council to discuss comprehensive immigration reform on Sept. 24
FLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff City Council will discuss a resolution in support of comprehensive immigration reform at its next work session meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24 at the Flagstaff City Hall, 211 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff. Supporters of…
Bilingual report: ‘Deferred Action Application Drive’ to be held Sept. 28
FLAGSTAFF — NO DREAM DEFERRED will present a “Deferred Action Application Drive” on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Killip Elementary School, 2300 E. 6th Ave., Flagstaff. Held in collaboration with Arizona DREAMers in Action. Contact 810-373-2691 if you have questions about…
Our Lady of Guadalupe community family photo scanning day to be held Sept. 29
FLAGSTAFF — Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces, in cooperation with other community groups, will present a “Community Historic Family Photo Scanning Day” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Cultural Center — “The Basement,” 224…
Ballet Folklórico de Colores to present folklorico dance groups from Oaxaca on Sept. 19
FLAGSTAFF — Ballet Folklórico de Colores — Flagstaff will present a free* dance performance by Grupo Folklorico de Oaxaca Asociación Civil, directora Teresa Ochoa, and Compañía de Danza Regional de Puebla, director Jorge Armando Castenada, from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday,…
Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) to hold special meeting on Sept. 18
FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) will hold a special meeting to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18 at the under renovation Our Lady of Guadalupe Cultural Center — “The Basement,” 224 So.…
Reminder: Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces fundraiser all day at Someburros! on Sept. 16
Have a great meal and support a good cause For every meal purchased through 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16, Someburros! will donate 20 percent of the proceeds to the Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces Heritage Fund for use in the renovation of…
Al Hurricane entertains the crowd at the 2013 Coconino County Fair
Click on the image to see a slideshow from the performance. Hover over each image to see a description. By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ With half the band stuck in a major traffic jam on Interstate 40 near Holbrook,…
September Cover Story / Portada: Bringing a historic legacy back to life
Renovation begins at Our Lady of Guadalupe Cultural Center — ‘The Basement’ By Star Hunter / AmigosNAZ It started out as a casual comment during a meeting: “The Father wants to see if the group wanted to help renovate the…
Commentary / Comentario: Starting school off right
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ It was Aug. 21, nearly one month after the start of school and the annual W.F. Killip Elementary School open house was in full swing in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Flagstaff. It seemed like…
Local / Locales
Following a thorough review and input from community stakeholders, the Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) will continue to offer dental clinic services for the public, Coconino County officials reported in a media release. The CCPHSD Dental Clinic offers…
Travel / Viajes: Spain pilgrimage draws seekers
By Stacey Wittig / Vagabonding Chica – Travel Writer Discovery is what I love most about traveling. When I have a tentative agenda, I have time to stumble upon new places. Once on foreign soil, I seek out events or…
Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces celebrates culture with picnic / dance
Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces presented its annual “Hispanic Pioneer Reunion” on Aug. 24, 2013 at Fort Tuthill County Park, following by a dance featuring Tejano Music Award nominees Grupo XS at the American Legion in Flagstaff. Click on the image to see…
Cover Story / Portada: Sunnyside continues to build a strong community
Organizers say much work remains to keep area heading in right direction By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ Maybe it’s a case that success breeds complacency — that the hard work has already been done and there is no urgency…
Commentary / Comentario: Youth and our future
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ We must provide all young people with the tools they need to succeed in school along with career opportunities so they can become a key part of the region’s vibrant economy. Part one of…
Cover Story / Portada: Area food providers working to feed region’s need
Feeding the hungry remains a year-round challenge for many groups By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ Holiday canned food drives, free turkey dinners and other events during the winter months are how most people see the issue of hunger in America. Make…
Travel / Viajes: ‘Gucci’ camping on the Inca Trail
By Stacey Wittig / Vagabonding Chica – Travel Writer The remote ruins of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Peru, can be reached by train. However, the hardy – may I add fool-hardy? – prefer the road less…
Bilingual report: Latinos to play important role in state’s future
Improving student achievement, developing new leaders will be key to Arizona’s success By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ A vibrant Arizona of the future will require a strong investment in the state’s educational system. But party politics and a focus on…
Bilingual report: CHAC invites you every month starting July 1
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ While we have recently enjoyed a month of significant cultural events (such as Flagstaff’s Fiesta de Mayo, NAU’s Hispanic Convocation), issues that affect the Hispanic community in the region remain with us all year…