La Clinica & Native American Health Center Honor Dia de Los Muertos
The organizers at the Oakland Museum of California have invited community partners, including our member health centers La Clinica and Native American Health Center to build an alter for their 28th annual Dia de Los Muertos Celebration.
La Clinica:
La Clinica’s Cultura y Bienstar is a Latin focused mental health prevention center. Their alter will honor the intersections of climate change, displacement, and immigration, as well as their ancestors, the recently passed, and life’s losses. In addition to building an alter, they’ll be hosting a drumming circle on October 30th and offering a Mayan invocation at their site on November 1st.
Native American Health Center (NAHC):
NAHC is calling their alter Celebrating our Inter-tribal Ancestors. They took this opportunity to a shine light on the Urban Native community and encouraged community members to send the names of their loved ones, friends, and family members who have passed, and who they wish to honor and celebrate. During the event, among sweet smoke of copal and colorful dances, people hung names of their loved ones on a string of handmade paper flowers and thanked NAHC for giving them the opportunity to celebrate their lives.
NAHC was more than happy to answer all of the questions the community members asked about the different tribal representations on their altar including, Haida whales, Ohlone clapper sticks, Incan crosses, and Plains style drums. NAHC also provided a brief history of the Native roots of the Day of the Dead and how the fall season it its entirety, among many tribes is known as a time when spirits of passed loved ones are closer to the living.
What is Dia de Los Muertos?
The Day of the Dead or Dia de Los Muertos is a Mexican holiday when families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives with food, drinks, and other celebrations. You can learn more about this holiday HERE.
This event is open to all.
View images of the Dia de Los Muertos Ofrenda in our gallery below:
