2008 Woodie Awards
Professor performs Native American songs
Juan Avila shares traditions and history of his ancestors
Melissa Vlach
Issue date: 11/14/06 Section: News
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A small crowd gathered in the Chapel on Wednesday to witness a Native American tradition. Juan Avila, a seminar professor at Saint Mary's, shared traditional deer songs with the audience.
The event, held during community time, demonstrated songs of the Yoeme people, also called Yaquis, from southern Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. The traditional songs have been passed down through generations for thousands of years.
Avila, whose mother is from Sonora, described the presentation as a combination academic talk and sharing of traditions. He began with a welcome in the language of the Yoeme people. He then shook everyone's hand.
Before he started the songs, Avila explained a little about the Yoeme religion. He said that the Yoeme place a very high value on nature.
"What we call the 'huya ania,' which translates to the 'wilderness world,' is a very sacred place for us," he said, explaining that this is any place of wilderness.
Spending time with nature is important in this culture.
"We're getting spiritual power, and we're getting strength for ourselves," he said about the practice.
The religion is often described as syncretic, incorporating aspects of the native religion as well as Catholicism. Despite this mix, the song lyrics have remained the same over the years.
"There are no European or Christian or foreign references in the songs," he said.
In addition to telling about the religion, Avila sang some of the traditional deer songs, while accompanying himself on various percussion instruments. Each instrument has its own meaning.
"For us, everything has significance," he said.
He explained that one instrument represents the deer's breath while another represents its heartbeat. A rattle-like instrument signifies the plant world.
The songs relate to ancient ways of life for the Yoeme people. "A long time ago, our people depended on the deer," he said. The songs are their way of showing appreciation to the creature.
The event, held during community time, demonstrated songs of the Yoeme people, also called Yaquis, from southern Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. The traditional songs have been passed down through generations for thousands of years.
Avila, whose mother is from Sonora, described the presentation as a combination academic talk and sharing of traditions. He began with a welcome in the language of the Yoeme people. He then shook everyone's hand.
Before he started the songs, Avila explained a little about the Yoeme religion. He said that the Yoeme place a very high value on nature.
"What we call the 'huya ania,' which translates to the 'wilderness world,' is a very sacred place for us," he said, explaining that this is any place of wilderness.
Spending time with nature is important in this culture.
"We're getting spiritual power, and we're getting strength for ourselves," he said about the practice.
The religion is often described as syncretic, incorporating aspects of the native religion as well as Catholicism. Despite this mix, the song lyrics have remained the same over the years.
"There are no European or Christian or foreign references in the songs," he said.
In addition to telling about the religion, Avila sang some of the traditional deer songs, while accompanying himself on various percussion instruments. Each instrument has its own meaning.
"For us, everything has significance," he said.
He explained that one instrument represents the deer's breath while another represents its heartbeat. A rattle-like instrument signifies the plant world.
The songs relate to ancient ways of life for the Yoeme people. "A long time ago, our people depended on the deer," he said. The songs are their way of showing appreciation to the creature.