Wirikuta Weekend in ATX

Austinites! The Herbal Anthropology Project and The Huichol Center for Cultural Survival are hosting Wirikuta Weekend - an event in ATX on October 15th and 16th that benefits an indigenous herbarium to be built at the Huichol Center.  Check it out, y'all.

Details below:

Wirikuta Weekend is a series of five events to benefit the first indigenous herbarium in Huejuquilla el Alto, Mexico. 

Co-sponsored by The Mexican Consulate, Wirikuta Weekend is hosted by The Huichol Center for Cultural Survival and the Arts and The Herbal Anthropology Project, a nonprofit that supports community-led preservation of indigenous traditional knowledge.

Wirikuta Weekend Events
Individual event or weekend passes are available for purchase here. All tickets are 501(c)(3) tax-deductible donations. 

1. Forum on the State of Mexican Indigenous Rights
Saturday / 8:30am-11:30am at Parkside (breakfast provided) / $25 students / $40 non-students
Ticket prices after October 5th: $30 students/$50 non-students

Experience a traditional cleansing and blessing ceremony led by a Huichol marakame, followed by 15-minutes talks and a 30-45 minute Q&A panel on the current status of indigenous rights in Mexico, cultural diversity, bio-cultural conservation, and global sustainable development. Speakers include Co-Director of the Huichol Center Susana Valdez and more.

2. Cultural Celebration Lunch
Saturday / 12:00pm-2:00pm at Parkside / $60 meal ticket / $10 herbal cocktails / $5 beer & wine
Ticket prices after October 5th: $75 meal ticket

Sample authentic Mexican and Huichol dishes from a tasting menu featuring a sacred five-color corn posole, blue corn chicken tamales, quelites (wild greens), and heirloom yellow beans. Enjoy art demonstrations and a traditional dance performance as you dine!

*Vegan options available

3. Herbal Cocktail Hour with Huichol Delegation
Saturday / 2:30pm-3:30pm at Parkside / VIP ticket holders & event sponsors only

Savor three hand-crafted herbal cocktails from the traditional plants and spirits of three global regions: Mexico, Western Europe, and India. Each participant will experience each cocktail paired with hors d'oeuvres by Parkside chef Shawn Cirkiel, followed by the option of one full-size cocktail or a flight of three. 

4. Huichol Art Exhibition & Silent Auction
Saturday / 8:30am-2:30pm at Parkside / Free

View and bid on 24 pieces of original Huichol yarn painting and beadwork crafted by the artists-in-residence at the Huichol Center in Huejuquilla el Alto. HAP will announce auction winners Sunday at 3:00pm, and winners will have 24 hours to claim their art before the next bidder is notified.

5. Film Screening: “Huichol: Last Peyote Guardians”
Saturday / 4:00pm-7:00pm at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar / $25-$40 ticket / $10 sotol margaritas / $5 beer & wine / $5-50 raffle tickets
Sunday / 12:00pm-3:00pm at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar / $25-$40 ticket / $10 sotol margaritas / $5 beer & wine / $5-50 raffle tickets

Tickets after October 5th: $35 - $50
Attend the film screening of this critically-acclaimed independent feature produced by Huichol filmmakers highlighting the emblematic international struggle to protect their sacred desert lands from Canadian silver mining firms. The film has won several awards including Best Documentary at Red National Film Festival for shedding light on mining issues in the San Luis Potosí desert. Scenes of traditional Huichol pilgrimage and rituals are juxtaposed with international and modern settings to provide a holistic view of the archetypal struggle between indigenous cultural conservation and international colonial financial interests. Weekend and VIP pass holders receive dinner entree selections and a sotol margarita, and all participants receive complimentary popcorn and drinks. 

For questions, contact Jane at jane@herbalanthropology.org