My name is Marcela Sabin Ponce. My ancestors are the Celts from Galicia, Spain, the Basque people from France, Anglo-Saxons from Hannover in Germany, and Italians from Ostiano in Cremona. Even when I was young, I was very interested in the indigenous and traditional cultures from all over the world. As I grew up, I studied traditional dances, ceremonies, and healing practices. In college, I conducted a research project on traditional healing practices of Mayan midwives in Yucatan, Mexico, which included living in the indigenous community of Xcalacdzonot for 6 months. Living with the Mayan people opened my mind and spirit to very different ways of understanding reality, awakening in me a deep admiration of the rich and complex culture of the indigenous peoples of Mexico.
When I came to the US and had my first contact with the Indigenous Mind Program, founded by Dr. Apela Colorado at Naropa University in Oakland, the first question that I was asked was “Who are your ancestors?” This touched me deeply, because until that moment I had never thought in my self as being Indigenous. I was born in Argentina, in Cordoba, to parents who were children of immigrants from Europe. I knew practically nothing about my ancestors during my childhood. Every now and then, I would hear a family anecdote that someone remembered or had heard. At that time, Europe sounded like a strange place, far away in time and space. I grew up believing that the children of immigrants had no particular roots, no culture, no special history of their own.
During my Indigenous Mind studies, Dr. Colorado led me to reconnect with my tribal history and bring back my ancestors -- their names, places, stories, ceremonies, and memories. This has been a long journey of remembering who I am. Knowing ourselves and remembering who we are continues for all our lives. We constantly transform ourselves in this unending process. What we start continues in the lives of those who follow us, in our families, our communities, in all our relations. We have been called to continue teaching and bringing this work of discovery to others.
I am blessed to be a part of Circle of Ancestors, and this community of people who are engaged in a deep process of remembering their ancestors. Indigenous science allows you to rediscover and restore your indigenous roots, to honor the ancestral spirits, revive ancient ways of knowing, and facilitate healing through multi-cultural dialogues. We hope to use this space to share our learning processes with others, to open new questions, and awaken new memories and opportunities for others as well.
