Hand-painted wooden masks and ancestral dances from century-old cultures still alive in Mexico took center stage on Saturday in Santa Maria, California, during the first indigenous carnival organized by Oaxacan migrants on the West Coast of the United States.
"With this Oaxacan festival, which proudly showcased the name of Mexico, we succeeded in bringing our traditions and indigenous culture to the United States. Although we have departed from our native lands, we remain deeply proud of our roots, and we are committed to preserving them," said Iván Santiago, leader of the Chikua'a dance group and the event's organizer.
