Aztec Weekend

Feeling cultural? El Concilio del Condado de Ventura will host “Weekend of Culture” Saturday and Sunday for those interested in experiencing poetry and the traditional dances of the Aztec people.

The event is being held to dedicate a mural by Jaime Estrada and Michael Mora at El Concilio del Condado in Oxnard.

Festivities begin with an evening of American Indian music and poetry at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Featured artists will be American Indian poet/activist John Trudell and drummer/singer Quiltman.

As the performing group Tribal Voice, the duo have won national acclaim for their most recent recording, “. . . but this isn’t El Salvador.”

Trudell and Quiltman set messages on themes such as pop culture, politics, and romantic images to traditional American Indian drums.

Trudell was national chairman of the American Indian Movement from 1973 to 1979 and participated in the occupation of Alcatraz Island in 1969.

Featured in the evening will be Latino poet and musician Jose Montoya of the group The Royal Chicano Air Force. Poet Luzma Espinosa, the Santa Paula coordinator of the Aztec dance group Xitlalli will share her work.

A $5 donation is requested for the evening.

The mural dedication will be held at noon Sunday. The celebration will feature Xitlalli . Adorned in traditional attire and headdress, dancers from the San Francisco and Sacramento chapters of the group will perform.

Also performing Aztec dance routines will be Xipe Totece from Los Angeles. Providing Mexican folk music will be the trio Vida y Ensueno.

The mural is a three-piece creation. It consists of the following: “All My Relations,” a traditional native American scene; “Let the Music Set You Free,” a tribute to contemporary Latino artists; and “Coyote Places the Stars,” a futuristic piece.

There is no charge for Sunday events.

The El Concilio Oxnard office is at 528 South A St., Oxnard. For more information, call 486-4587.