SMC Celebrates its First-Ever Indigenous People's Day
Video shot, edited and produced by Corsair Multimedia Reporter Michael Waas. SMC celebrates Indigenous People's Day on Oct. 15 in Santa Monica, Calif.
Santa Monica College (SMC) celebrated its first ever Indigenous People's Day event on main campus with live music and interactive dancing. Rather than observe Columbus Day, many students opted to observe Indigenous People's Day in remembrance of the cultures negatively affected by Europe's conquest of the Americas.
During the event, which took place on Tuesday, Oct. 15, students were encouraged to use the celebration to represent anything they are proud to be. The Indigenous People's Day event was hosted by invited special guest musician Martin Espino, leader of Mexika a group of authentic indigenous dancers performing "Sounds of Ancient Mexico."
Students from a wide variety of different cultures gathered on the quad of SMC's main campus as the band's drummer, Erick Barraza, warmed up. For some students, the event was something they planned on attending, and many wore Mexico's soccer jersey to represent their home country. Other students were simply intrigued by the sounds of the percussionist preparing.
Freshman Koutn Hagopian stood alone waiting for the event to start. "I'm in an Anthropology class and my professor actually recommended it," he said. "So I thought I would just check it out." The two female performers were the first of the five dance members to enter the event space, soon followed by the three male members. Once given a quick introduction by Carla Claure, the Associated Students (A.S.) Director of Activities, the performance began. The members did a cultural dance while playing handmade indigenous instruments that consisted of hollowed out turtle shells, bamboo, and whistles called "Ocarinas." After the first round of dancing, Espino asked for five volunteers from the crowd to join the band to play drums. More than the requested amount of students rushed the dance floor with raised hands. The performance picked back up with students now involved and the crowd noticeably larger than before the event had started.
Between dance performances, Espino would come to the mic to educate listeners, asking students not to divide as a society. "I don't believe in the word diversity; you can hear the word divide in it," Espino said. He added, "We are all more alike than different, so why focus on the differences?"
Espino encouraged students to look in the mirror and find themselves.
SMC student Bryan Sanchez was ahead of the curve, sporting a bright black Mexico jersey with green and red accents. Hanging from his neck, laying against the center of his chest, was silver medallion. "My abuelita gave me this medallion when I visited her at her home in Hildago Tula, Mexico," he said.
The event ended with Espino inviting all that would fit on the dance floor to join in a final "friendship circle dance." SMC students ran to the dance floor for a spot in the circle. The dancers and students all gathered in a circle hand-in-hand, headed by Espino. Espino lead the circle around, instructing students to kick when he kicked. The dance ended with the circle coming to a knee and bowing to the ground.
Walking away from the event with a group of friends and video footage in his iPhone, Bryan Sanchez shared what he took away from the celebration. "The event makes me want to be the best Mexican I can be as a man in America," Sanchez said.