CE TEMPOXCALLI

Press Release

Ce Tempoxcalli

Tuesday May 3, 2011

Media contact: Jerry Lopez (612) 388-0552

www.ce-t.org

Sacred Aztec Drum Located, Returned – Many Items Remain Missing

Members of the Twin Cities Aztec Dance Circle, Danza Mexica Cuautemoc are ecstatic as they received news yesterday that the Grandfather Drum had been located and is now home. However many items remain stolen. In appreciation of everyone’s efforts and to welcome the drum home a public ceremony will be held.

Honoring the Drum Ceremony
Wednesday May 4, 2001 at 6:30 pm
Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center
El Rio Vista Level
179 Robie Street East
Saint Paul, MN 55107-2360

Statement:

On May 2, 2011 Jerry Lopez received a call from Ramsey County Sheriff Matt Brostrom letting him know that Lead Investigator Julie Urban had the trailer and drum. Shortly thereafter Jerry Lopez and three danzantes (dancers) went to the Ramsey County Sheriffs Department to identify the drum and bring it home.

We are very grateful to the Ramsey County Sheriffs Department and Lead Investigator Julie Urban who worked so hard at finding the drum. We also want to express our deepest appreciation to Roseville Police Department, Saint Paul Police Officer Sgt. Paul Paulos, Twin Cities Transport & Recovery, the local media, and the hundreds of people who reached out to use over the past week.

This experience demonstrates that working collaboratively with public safety, media and good community members can and does work. This experience also provided us with a opportunity to learn about paying attention to detail, following through, and honoring our commitments to care for our sacred items.

Today, thousands of dollars in items still remain missing and although we are most grateful our drum is home, we hope that all of the remaining items are at the very least being respected in a good way, wherever they may be.

An appreciation ceremony will be held on Wednesday May 4, 2001 at 6:30 pm at the Paul & Sheila Wellstone Center for Community Building to honor the drum and its return home. The drum will also be played at the upcoming Chalchiutlicue Environmental Summit & Ceremony on May 20-21, 2011. Members of the public are welcome to attend all events

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Statement on theft of cultural items:

On Wednesday, April 27, Ce Tempoxcalli was notified that a drum, instruments, outfits and feathers that were housed in our trailer at a secure Public Storage facility in Little Canada, MN had been stolen.

The impact on our community is great; we are all feeling this loss deeply. Ce Tempoxcalli is grateful for the assistance that we are receiving from individuals, media and the Ramsey County Sherriff’s Office to raise awareness in the Twin Cities community about the theft, and we are truly hoping that the end result will be the return of the drum.

Please share this message with as many friends and family as possible. We are looking ahead to our 7th Annual Chalchiutlicue Summit & Ceremony on May 21, 22 & 23 and we are hoping that the drum will be returned to join us.

Thank you for your support.

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Ce Tempoxcalli, the house of knowledge production, emerged from a long standing effort of community based organizing around promoting and preserving indigenous knowledge, history, music, language and culture.

Over 15 years ago, the seed of Ce Tempoxcalli was planted by a group of Latino and Immigrant students who started a cultural revitalization program designed to improve academic and life success by strengthening identity and connection to community.

Ce Tempoxcalli is dedicated to achieving success, health and wellness, cultural integrity, and well-being for all people, with a specific focus on Latino, Native American and Immigrant communities through youth enrichment programs rooted in culture.

We operate as a largely volunteer organization and we leverage every dollar to the max with outstanding programs, services and inkind donations from over 300 volunteer, community and funding partners. Thank you for joining us in working and learning through culture to build healthy communities!