endy trece produced her piece, "Onion Ceremony: Xiqui Yehua in Xochitl", for her contribution to Self Help Graphics & Art's 2021 Día de los Muertos Exhibition, "Everything Connected: Land, Body, Cosmos", on view from October 9-November 24, 2021. Learn more at www.selfhelpgraphics.com/exhibitions.

Artist Statement:
"As many of us during this time of Covid, I have been in what feels like constant mourning and without being able to participate in traditional communal ceremonies with loved ones (here in Tongva Land and for me also back home in Wirrarika Land).

This recording was created as an ofrenda one night in early 2021, when I was feeling the loss of yet another of my tios back home- due to Covid. I was so sad I couldn’t go to be with my extended family. I couldn’t attend any funerals for those we had already lost here in Tongva lands, much less travel to Wirrarika land.

What I could do is, through traditional song, access the Great Mystery that is love and life, and connect us. What I could do is sing, because I know ehecatl carries the message through land, time, space, dimensions, and strengthens our cosmic connection. I made the ofrenda, and shortly after I found out one more of my tios had also traveled to the next world. All I could do is continue to sing this song. Through traditional song, I connected to my family.
I sang and sang. I sing.

My tias y tios have always been and will continue to be a big part of my learning about what it is to be human. A testament to the truly intentional consciousness that inspires most indigenous people’s cultural group name to usually signify “the people”.

When I spoke with Leigh Garcia, one of the main themes that we connected with was onions. The layers, the folklore, the mystical qualities, and the fields. Our families and the fields. My tios worked in the fields for decades. They drove trucks in the fields, and that resonates with Leigh’s “Onion Piece”. Also, for the past 13 years, I have performed an Onion Ceremony to support my body releasing tears when I miss my departed loved ones, I have added this song to it and it strengthens that connection, it strengthens me to carry on.

The paradox of life is that while grief and sadness is here, we must continue and honor those in the Spirit World by honoring both our grief and our current life here with Mother Earth. Honor human, animal, mineral, elemental, and cosmic life. “We honor life by living in truth and joy as much as possible and we are responsible to care for life in all forms.” - that is what I was taught by my family.

I invite you to listen to the song and send a message to your loved ones, while cutting onions. The wind will carry your message, your tears will soothe you in the truth of your grief and if you listen with your heart, you may receive a message back to you, in reciprocity.

Xiqui Yehua In Xochitl is a traditional nahuatl song, it is often translated as follows:
Xiqui yehuatl in xochitl
Xiqui yehuatl ipan noyolot
Pampani mitz tlazotla
Pampani mitz tlazotla
Ica nuchi noyolotl


Guarda esta flor
Guardala en tu corazon
Porque yo te amo
Porque yo te amo
Con todo mi corazon

Save this flower
Keep it in your heart
Because I love you
Because I love you
With all my heart"