Ofelia Esparza, and her daughter Rosanna Esparza Ahrens, represent six and seven generations of altar makers, or “altristas” from their maternal lineage, who were all born and raised in the same town called, Huanimaro, Guanajuato, Mexico. The grandmothers are Martina Rodriguez (b.1784), Anastacia Morado (b.1800), Luz Mendoza (b.1832), Hipolita Tinoco “Mama Pola”(b.1857), Matilde Tinoco (b.1869), Maria Salud Garcia (b.1886), and, Guadalupe Salazar “Mama Lupe” (b.1904).

Mama Pola, Ofelia’s great great grandmother was the culture bearer who imparted her knowledge of food-making, ancestor-honoring and indigenous feast day observances with three generations of her granddaughters, the last one being Mama Lupe, who in turn brought her culture with her to the U.S. via Chicago, IL. (1921), then East Los Angeles, CA (1930). Mama Lupe became the culture bearer for subsequent generations and although she never called herself an artist, her devotion to her family and culture was her art form, demonstrated by her resourceful “making,” from la cocina to la ofrenda (the kitchen to the altar). She taught her daughter, Ofelia (b.1932), that her practice went beyond devotion; it was an obligation to remember the ancestors. Mama Lupe taught through her storytelling, during food prep or paper-crafting for different feast days, while giving meticulous instructions on how to plan, assemble, and declare a space as sacred.

Ofelia was a curious student who absorbed everything she was taught and passed on her knowledge, to her family and beyond – her beloved East L. A. community. Rosanna was also a first hand witness of Mama Lupe’s energy and teachings. She has already taken on the mantle of altar maker, carrying forward the tradition to future generations. The duo have been collaborating together for the last 20 years and Rosanna is now a Master altar maker as designated by her community.

Being Taproot Fellows acknowledges that the work we do as altar makers has created a groundswell of connection and curiosity regarding ancestor and nature honoring in the community and beyond. This recognition acknowledges that collective remembering and collective grieving is an essential practice that deepens to our understanding of our diverse indigenous identities which have universal significance because our kinship with the cosmos.

Boozhoo, Nindinawemaaganak, “Hello, all my relatives (all forms of life).” As Anishinaabe Endow, “one of the people” of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, I was born and raised in Belcourt, North Dakota. My name is Mekinak Ikwey, “Turtle Woman.” I earned my bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Mayville State, ND. I have over 30 years of experience in teaching and education. I attended ceremonies and learned and shared our way of life during my career, integrating traditional teachings with the Western teaching paradigm. I found myself reclaiming my culture and my identity.

In my lifelong journey as a student and teacher, I am continuously working to instill the beauty of Anishinaabe life; I am called upon to help our communities by facilitating ceremonies involving teaching and sharing songs, stories, regalia making, and other protocols. I’ve been married for 52 years to my classmate and friend, Lynn Gourneau.

While reclaiming our ways, I discovered that sharing is imperative to enhancing historical kindness compared to generational/historical trauma; I promote restoring balance by practicing and incorporating the Anishinaabe way through textiling, storytelling, and ceremonial protocol to restore Anishinaabe values.