What is the Chiltepes Chilerxs Project?
Chiltepes Chilerxs Project is a community building project focused on providing a platform for people of Mesoamerican descent in the diaspora to connect with each other and our respective homelands. This project combines food, culture and language as mediums through which we connect with our respective homelands through storytelling and interpersonal exchange. Though we may be connected to our homelands through our nationalities, families, friendships or kinships, we are disconnected as a consequence of colonially imposed border policies, imperialist interventions, illegal adoptions practices and economic exploitation. Our goal is to bring together our community to bridge the worlds we come from.
Why Chiltepes Chilerxs?
A chiltepe is a small but spicy chili pepper characteristic to the region known as "Meso America". It’s a small yet powerful chili that gives your meal some kick and added flavor.
“Chilero” is a classic Guatemalan word that differentiates our way of saying “cool” from all other countries in Latin America. It is a completely unique form of expressing approval, acceptance and affirmation. iQue chilero!
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The chiltepe roots us in the land where our parents are from or where we immigrated from, while chilero gives us a linguistic tool to define our identities in the diaspora. Though we may not be in the land of the chiltepe, we can carry our identity through language, food and culture that sets us apart from other cultures.
Our community is comprised of people who currently live or primarily grew up in Turtle Island (United States and Canada) with origins in Meso America. Our community members come from a diverse set of ages, backgrounds and nationalities representing the Meso American region- Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. Some of our community members were born in Turtle Island, others were born in Meso America and came to Turtle Island as migrants or as adoptees. Each person that forms part of our community has a unique story to tell.
