Corn Husk Doll WorkshopOver the past four years, I have developed a "social practice" of teaching youth, students, elders, and others of all walks of life to make corn husk dolls. As a "folk tradition" that exists across the "American" continent, I feel that corn husk dolls can bring people together across multiple nations, cultures, and borders.
I first learned how to make these dolls during a week of events related to Indigenous Peoples Day at UC Berkeley. Different student organizations came together to organize various events. Azteca/Mexica/Chichimeca danzantes from In Xochitl In Cuicatl shared how to make the dolls. To give credit to the original teacher, they learned from artist and then Chicano Studies maestra, Celia Herrera Rodriguez, who I'm sure learned from someone else, and so on... |
"Maíz is like a human being; it cannot grow without human care
and human beings cannot grow without maíz."
––Paula Domingo Olivares
and human beings cannot grow without maíz."
––Paula Domingo Olivares
Workshop with Sisters of South LA, co-facilitated with Zully Juarez.
(July 2017)
(July 2017)
In the workshop curriculum I have developed, I teach the basic steps of making the doll interweaved with history sharing and storytelling facilitating. My goal is always for participants to be able to awaken their own cultural memory about their relationship to corn, so that they can learn how to teach others to make corn husk dolls, remember their relationship to corn as a food-way, and continue to pass down this knowledge.
When I first showed my family how to make the dolls, after making tamales for xmas, I was very moved by my Nana's response to learning how to make them. As my Nana, my tía, and a cousin followed the steps my Nana says, "I just remembered that my mom use to make these!" The simple act of making the dolls sparked a memory that would have been forgotten.
Through other workshops, youth have shared stories about traditions their families practice as well as older participants telling long stories about their homelands. These are a valuable knowings that I seek to inspire participants to cherish.
If you are interested in learning how to make corn husk dolls at your school or organization,
I am more than happy to come along and teach/share/facilitate mutual learning.
It is my favorite workshop to share with others!
When I first showed my family how to make the dolls, after making tamales for xmas, I was very moved by my Nana's response to learning how to make them. As my Nana, my tía, and a cousin followed the steps my Nana says, "I just remembered that my mom use to make these!" The simple act of making the dolls sparked a memory that would have been forgotten.
Through other workshops, youth have shared stories about traditions their families practice as well as older participants telling long stories about their homelands. These are a valuable knowings that I seek to inspire participants to cherish.
If you are interested in learning how to make corn husk dolls at your school or organization,
I am more than happy to come along and teach/share/facilitate mutual learning.
It is my favorite workshop to share with others!
Facilitating Corn Husk Doll station during
La Comunidad Ixim's event Colors of Guatemala in Los Angeles.
(March 2017)
La Comunidad Ixim's event Colors of Guatemala in Los Angeles.
(March 2017)