EDITOR’S NOTE: Don Backman and I have worked together for a few years now and have a routine about upcoming events, he’ll call or text – “What’s happening this weekend?” and I’ll respond with a list of options and ideas. The first weekend in August, I messaged him with a copy of the flyer for the Una Celebracion de Huehca Omeyocan, Healing of the Ocean Ceremony at Cape Lookout. I’ve always wanted to go myself (and now after Don’s photos and the video – see below) – it’s definitely on my calendar for next year. I’ve had friends tell me how moving and amazing the experience is, but I have to tell you to hear and see Don’s photographer eye cover this event … it’s something special indeed. He said “I don’t have enough adjectives to convey how amazing this experience was. I thought I’d have to go to Central America to experience something like this, and to have it here, in my own backyard … ” Here’s his view of the Offering to our Healing Oceans by Huehca Omeyocan.
Don Backman Photos & Video
By Don Backman
The crowd of barefoot dancers in colorful traditional Central American (commonly referred to as Aztec) cultural costumes twirled and stomped out intricate dance steps on the grass. The scent of incense and wood smoke flowed through the air. Drums beat out a rhythm and the high notes of the flute flowed out over the group and the audience. It was the 10th year that the event has occurred at Cape Lookout State Park and was also the largest so far.
The event, put on by Huehca Omeyocan, a group out of McMinnville, Oregon, and featuring participating individuals and groups from Portland, Seattle, and Central America, filled the event space at the day use area at Cape Lookout. Representatives from Friends of Netarts Bay WEBS, OSU Tillamook County Extension, Juntos Afuera Program, Ocean Shores, and Oregon State Parks provided educational activities and information about their programs.
Huehca Omeyocan explained the event on their Facebook page as, “The Mexica-Chichimeca or Aztec dance and music connects the natural world, human body, and spirit with everything that exists. It is a cosmic integration — a prayer in motion that delights the senses. Led by Maria Elena Cortes Duran, dancers’ regalia vibrantly display colorful ancestral symbols and vivid feathers. At the Huehuetl drum, Eduardo Cruz Torres sets the rhythm for the flight of ceramic flutes, ocarinas, and wind whistles, while traditional Nahuatl rattles, stones, seeds, and bones stir the atmosphere of each performance.”
The dancers, wearing colorful costumes swirled for nearly 5 hours. The ceremony started at 10 AM, and ran till almost 2:00 PM, then the group transitioned from the day use area to the beach. A procession of dancers accompanied by flutes and drumming led them slowly down the beach to the cliffs. Finally, the members took four poles adorned with flowers and waded far into the surf and launched them into the sea.
The weather was perfect for the event with fog in the early hours keeping the temperature down, and then the sun broke though as they walked on the beach. The brilliant feather adorned costumes created a delightful spectacle for observers and photographers alike. The 10th annual event was a big success.
(From Friends of Netarts Bay WEBS) – This year was the 10th year of the
@huehcaomeyocan Offering to Our Healing Ocean Celebration at Cape Lookout State Park.
Led by artist, drummer, performer, and cultural promoter Eduardo Cruz Torres Amictlan and his wife, who is the main dancer of the group, Maria Elena Cortes Duran Malinalmiquiz, this year’s celebration centered art, culture, music, and dance in a vibrant, colorful, generous, and transcendental way.
Dancers’ regalia vibrantly displayed colorful ancestral symbols and vivid feathers. At the Huehuetl drum, Eduardo Cruz Torres set the rhythm for the flight of ceramic flutes, ocarinas, and wind whistles, while traditional Nahuatl rattles, stones, seeds, and bones stirred the atmosphere of each performance.
The movements and sounds of these spirited presentations mirrored the energy that joins each of us with each other and the entire cosmos.
With joyful generosity, @Huehcaomeyocan aims to inspire this transcendent connectivity in every community they touch.
This year’s celebration was hosted in partnership with
@oregonstateparks who led a Snowy Plover booth and provided the spqce to hold this event,
Tillamook County Solid Waste Department who loaned their marine debris eating large metal fish sculpture.
Two videos:
