CCEGL INSTITUTE & JOURNEY TO OAXACA
During August, 2010, CCEGL Institute participants journeyed to Oaxaca, Mexico to work with teachers in a small Zapotec indigenous community. A relationship had been developed over the past year between CCEGL and UNOSJO (Union of Organizations of the Sierra Juarez of Oaxaca). Many indigenous farmers are struggling against the recent contamination of their native corns by GMO varieties, which have been “accidentally” introduced into Mexico. Contamination of seed and the introduction of foreign grains and foods has become a global problem. Members of UNOSJO were recently hosted by several organizations in the Bay Area to participate in panels on food sustainability and to bring testimony of their experiences.  The state of Oaxaca is rich in history, culture and artistry with many opportunities to know the people and traditions. The main city of Oaxaca is filled with impressive colonial architecture, vegetation, an endless array of colors from tejidos (weavings), artesanias (traditional crafts), exceptional regional cuisine and dances and the presence of a diversity of Oaxacan indigenous people from across the state. The people of Oaxaca have a long history of social engagement. The many years of struggle of the Oaxacan teachers is well known and several films have documented this in powerful ways (Granito de Arena, Corrugated Films).
For C CEGL educators, it was an honor to be able to work with Oaxacan educators, young people and their families and to learn about their struggles and teaching practices and to share ours with them. Our work together focused on building inclusive educational communities, exploring environmental issues with hands-on activities and lots of conversation. We place this work within the framework of developing a critical approach to the acquisition of literacy. The wor kshop took place in the small town of Gueletao, which is the birthplace of Mexico’s first indigenous President, Benito Juarez, famous for the words, “Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz," meaning "Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace." It is inscribed on the coat of arms of Oaxaca. Gueletao is a mountain town where the air is fresh and waking up to the view of the landscape is invigorating. We were housed in a boarding school which is home, during the school year, to children who do not have access to schools in their communities. C CEGL Institute participants work together for a period of several months learning about the environmental challenges that we face as both a local and global community. Themes include: access to clean water, food sustainability and food sovereignty, over-consumption, alternative energy, climate disruption with its social and its political consequences and the maintenance of indigenous language and culture. The learning process builds on a series of readings, film documentaries, discussions and hands-on activities to bring the themes to light within a classroom or community context. The Summer 2010 Institute was an intensive experience in which the content was presented and the Oaxaca workshop was planned and carried out within a six week period. Upon completion of the Institute, participating educators find creative ways to use, both the new knowledge that they gain and the structures and activities they developed for the workshop, within their own contexts. The following are a few of the exciting pieces that were brought into this workshop: Working with our Oaxacan colleagues to collect and use natural plant dyes and create fabric designs with the dyes. These are age-old traditions.   Performing an activity called, “The Council of All Beings (Joanna Macy) to graphically demonstrate the interconnection between all of the Earth’s beings and to bear witness to how human activity is endangering many of the earth’s inhabitants  
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