Check Out the 115th Commencement Alumni Video
This year we are excited to commission CCA alumnus Katherin Canton (BFA 2011) and Mariana Aq'ab'al Moscoso, known as Toj + Tijax: A Ritual of Mythmaking, to facilitate a sacred fire ceremony and art piece on an auspicious day in the Mayan Chol'qij (spiritual calendar) signifying the beginning of a new beginning, an uncertain time, the mystery and excitement of the next step.
Check out the video shown at this year's ceremony in celebration of the class of 2022. Additionally, this previous year’s scroll includes steps for each member of the class of 2022 to create their own fire ceremony.
KATHERIN CANTON (BFA Community Arts 2011)
Facilitator of Magic | Capacity Building Consultant | Budding Healer
Katherin Canton (they/them/theirs), residing on the ancestral lands of the Nisenan people, identifies as detribalized GuateMayan, a weaver, a healer, a cultural organizer, and a facilitator of magic. They were raised on Yelamu (occupied Ramaytush Ohlone land/San Francisco) and Huichin (occupied Chochenyo Ohlone land/Oakland). Part of their lifelong journey is to remember how to be in right relationship with themselves, neighbors, the land, ancestors, and particularly queer and trans Black, Indigenous, communities of color. They work at the California Arts Council as the first Race and Equity Manager responsible for providing strategic direction for institutionalize racial equity.
MARIANA AQ'AB'AL MOSCOSO
Artvist | Co-conspirator | Liberation worker.
Mariana Aq'ab'al Moscoso (they/them/theirs) is a nonbinary indigenous queer of detribalized Achi Mayan and Afro-indigenous roots living in unceded Nisanan land. They are a child of a courageous mother and solo parent of a creative daughter. A budding healer and liberation doula that creates art that centers decolonization and Mayan cosmovision. Mariana is a storyteller, digital artist, graphic designer, and zine maker. They are a co-visionary of Toj + Tijax: The Ritual of Myth Making, an indigenous queer healing space, while also working as the Arts in Corrections Program Manager at the California Arts Council.
TOJ + TIJAX: THE RITUAL OF MYTH MAKING
We are queer diasporic seeds of Iximulew (Guatemaya). We call upon the sacred healing of Tijax and we give offerings to the sacred fire of Toj.
Toj + Tijax (pronounced toh and tee-hash) is our commitment to create a space for healing based on our indigenous Maya cosmology and cultural practices. We are building a botanica for 2STQBIPOC (2 Spirit, trans, queer, Black, indigenous, and people of color) community healing through herbal medicine and other spiritual tools for our collective liberation. In collaboration with other indigenous healers our intention is to offer community healing events, including altar making, limpias, Nawal workshops, and so much more. Toj + Tijax is our offering and invitation to all indigenous people to (re)claim their healing practices.
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