Celebration of the Hispanic – LatinoIndígena Community in Oregon
Oregon Commission
on Hispanic Affairs
1983 – 2013 – 30 Years of Service
National Hispanic Heritage Month Sept 15 – Oct 15
♥ In September of 1968, the first proclamation by Lyndon B. Johnson
designated the week including September 15th and 16th as National Hispanic
Heritage Week. This was in recognition that five Central American neighbors
celebrate their Independence Day on the fifteenth of September and the
Republic of Mexico on the sixteenth.
♥ September 15th, 1821, is the day Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras, and Nicaragua achieved independence from Spain.
♥ In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded it to Hispanic Heritage Month
covering a 31 day period (September 15th -October 15th).
♥ September 16th, 1810, is Mexican Independence Day. It is the most
important national patriotic holiday in Mexico, the day they celebrate
independence from Spain.
♥ Cinco de mayo became popular in the United States in the 1970’s (beer).
Puebla de Los Angeles – Angelopolis 1531
Puebla de Zaragoza - 1862
The Battle of Puebla May 5, 1862
Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Battle of
Puebla of 1862, in which Mexican soldiers
surprisingly defeated French forces trying to
occupy the country. "Outnumbered, ill-equipped,
and ragged, but highly spirited and courageous,"
the underdog Mexicans drove back the French on
May 5, 1862, according to a U.S. House resolution
about the day. The following year, however,
Napoleon III sent troops to Mexico City, where they
won an easy victory. Archduke Ferdinand
Maximilian was installed as emperor, a title he held
until his execution in 1867.
Convento Santa Rosa
16th Century Dominican nuns
Mole Poblano
Cinco de Mayo
May 5
Mexican Independence Day
Sept 16
Mexico was seeking independence from the
Spaniards after they were forced into slavery
for 300 years. A Roman Catholic Priest,
Father Miguel Hidalgo, was a key player
during Mexico's quest for independence. He
gave a speech, known as "El Grito de
Dolores," on September 15, 1810 to the
people of Dolores, Guanajuato to encourage
them in seeking independence and freedom.
Father Hidalgo had a following of 90,000 poor
farmers and Mexican civilians who united to
rebel against the Spaniards. Father Hildalgo
was captured and killed in 1811. After his
death, two other freedom fighters led the fight
to freedom. Mexico got independent from
Spain in 1821. Their first presidential election
took place two years later in 1823.
Fr. Miguel Hidalgo
y Costilla
Convento Santa Monica
1606 – Augustinian Recollect
From Refuge to Religious Art Museum
Chiles en Nogada Sept 16 El Grito
Mexican Independence Day
Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz
November 12, 1651 – April 17,1695
Migrant Workers Migratory Patterns
L.GARSIDE,RN; BSN - TUALITY HEALTHCARE
¡SALUD! SERVICES
Latinos in Oregon by Lynn Stephen and Marcela Mendoza
Latino America: State-By-State ,Greenwood Publishing Company September, 2007
1500 Spain sent expeditions to the Northern coastal areas.
1800 The Oregon Territory becomes part of the U.S. in 1819.
1850s: Mexican mule packers supplied the Second Regiment Oregon Mounted
Volunteers during the Rogue River War who fought against Oregon’s native
peoples who were defending their territory.
1869. Mexican vaqueros bring up large herds of cattle that were driven up from
California to eastern Oregon.
1910: By this year Oregon ranked seventh among states outside the Southwest
with Mexican-born residents who came to work in farm production and on
railroads
1910-1925: Mexican workers are contracted to work in Sugar Beats and on
railroads in Portland, eastern Oregon and in other parts of the state. The first
Mexican families settle permanently in the state.
1942-1947 More than 15,000 bracero workers come to the state to work in
agriculture. Additional workers were employed on railroads.
1950s: Mexican and Mexican-American families settle in a several areas of
the state
1955: Portland Catholic Archdiocese establishes a Migrant Ministry to serve
the Mexican migrant population. In 1964 the name changes to Oregon
Friends of Migrants
1964: First Fiesta Mexicana held by the Mexican committee Pro Fiestas
Mexicanas in Woodburn, Oregon 2
1964: The Valley Migrant is formed. It is later known as Oregon Rural
Opportunities (ORO) and ends in 1979
1971: The Commission for Chicano Affairs is established. In 1983, the
group was renamed the Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs, and
created by legislative statute. OCHA is one of four Advocacy Commissions
for Oregon, others support the Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, and Women
constituents.
1973 Colegio César Chávez, the first Latino four-year college in the U.S. is
created on the former campus of Mt. Angel College in Silverton, Oregon. It
closes in 1983
1977 Willamette Valley Immigration Project opens in Portland then moves
to Woodburn to protect and represent undocumented workers.
1979 Salud de la Familia Medical Clinic established in Woodburn, Oregon
1981 El Hispanic News begins publication
1985 Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Nordoeste (PCUN, Northwest
Treeplanters and Farmworkers United) forms as Oregon’s only farmworker
union.
1995 The Chicano/Latino Studies Program is established at Portland State
University.
1996 CAUSA, Oregon Immigrant Rights Coalition is formed
2005: Latinos are registered by the U.S. Census as 9.9 percent of the state’s
population.
2007, the Immigration raid at Del Monte Foods and detention of almost 300
people, catalyzes advocacy for the reform of immigration policies.
2010, the U.S. Census reveals 50 million Hispanics in this nation,
About 11 million undocumented people. In Oregon, 450.000
Hispanic/Latino/Indígena people. Less than one third are undocumented.
2011, Governor Kitzhaber convenes working group to study Implications of
Driver License restrictions. Group proposes a new Driver Card.
2013, Oregon Legislature votes and enacts key laws and policies on health,
education, hate crimes, and the Driver Card
Clackamas County Demographics Summary
With 375,992 people, Clackamas County is the 3rd most populated county in
the state of Oregon out of 36 counties. Lane County with 351,715 people
and Marion County with 315,335 people are right behind you.
In 2010, the median household income of Clackamas County residents was
$62,007. Clackamas County households made slightly more than Columbia
County households ($55,199) and Deschutes County households ($53,071).
However, 9.0% of Clackamas County residents live in poverty.
The median age for Clackamas County residents is 40.6 years young.
The largest Clackamas County racial/ethnic groups are White (84.5%)
followed by Hispanic (7.7%) and Asian (3.6%).
Hispanic/Latino/Indígena Orgs
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Oregon Latino Agenda for Action
Oregon Hispanic Bar Association
Society of Hispanic Professional
Engineers
Oregon Association of Latino
Administrators
Latino Health Coalition Network
Oregon Latina Nurses Association
Organización de Campesinos
Indígenas de Oregón - OCIMO
Oregon Child Development Coalition
Oregon Human Development Corp.
Rural Development Initiative
Rural Organizing Project
Hispanic Metro Chamber of
Commerce
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Latino Alliance of Willamette Valley
Hispanic Advisory Committee, City of
Hermiston
Hispanic Entrepreneurs, Rogue Valley
Latino Network
Centro Latinoamericano, Eugene
Centro Cultural, Cornelius
Latino Community Association
Adelante Mujeres
Una Voz Unida, Southern Oregon
PCUN, CAUSA, UNETE
Latino Union Leadership Network
Diversified Builders, Engineers
Council (DBEC)
Hispanic Interagency Networking
Team, Clackamas County
Paul J. De Muniz
Retired Supreme Court Judge
His was the first Hispanic Chief Justice in the history of the
Oregon Supreme Court. He was elected to the court in
2000, and elected as Chief Justice in 2006. He won reelection in May 2006 for another six-year term on the
state's highest court. De Muniz previously served on the
Oregon Court of Appeals for ten years.
After law school, De Muniz began a public legal career as a state deputy public
defender and later as a special prosecutor for Douglas County, Oregon. He also
was in private practice in Salem and in private practice, De Muniz was the
primary attorney responsible for working to overturn the conviction of Santiago
Ventura Morales’ murder conviction. Morales, a migrant farm worker from
Mexico, was convicted in 1986 of killing a fellow farm worker. He was only given
a Spanish interpreter to assist in the language barrier, however his primary
language was Mixtec. On appeal it was shown that Morales was not the killer
and he was released in a national watched incident. After release Morales was
given a scholarship to the University of Portland and graduated with a degree in
social work.
Elena Carter Richardson
1948-2006
Oregon Ballet Theatre
In costume as Swanhilda in Copellia
Born and raised in Mexico City, Mexico, and she trained at the Academia de Ballet de
Coyoácan, before becoming principal dancer for Compania Nacional de Danza, and
with Ballet Clássico.
She later joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem and toured the world as a principal
before taking time off to have children in 1982. She moved to Portland, Oregon, and
became a principal in the Pacific Ballet Theatre and Oregon Ballet Theatre, served as
a faculty member in the Performing Arts Program at Jefferson High School and at
DaVinci Arts Middle School. Richardson was diagnosed with cancer in 2000 and
succumbed to the disease in 2006.
Freda Casilla
Audience Development Manager
Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Ashland, Oregon
Freda is currently OSF’s Audience Development Manager .She is responsible
for developing and managing the external marketing plan and strategy known
as “Cultural Connections”. This strategy seeks to broaden the range of
people who attend and engage with Oregon Shakespeare Festival via
multicultural marketing and community engagement. She is also responsible
for coordinating the biannual event, CultureFest which is a four day
celebration of multi-ethnic cultures and the work on OSF’s stages. Freda has
also been instrumental in creating the infrastructure for the internal and
external diversity and inclusion initiatives at OSF including the Audience
Development Manifesto.
Maestro Andres Lopera
Music Director
Metropolitan Youth Symphony
Marlene Yesquen
Medford School Board
Marlene Yesquen has joined the Law Office of Black, Chapman, Webber &
Stevens as an associate. She received a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School
in 2004 and a master’s degree in Public Administration from New Mexico
State University in 2001. She also obtained a bachelor’s degree in Politics
from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College. Marlene was born in Arlington,
Virginia and raised by Peruvian parents. She is a native Spanish speaker.
She has been appointed by Governor John Kitzhaber to the Early Learning
Council for the state of Oregon to work on education reform. She is elected
and serves as a board of director for the Medford School District. She sits on
the board of the Community Health Center and was appointed to sit on the
City of Medford’s Budget Committee. Marlene was selected to participate as
a fellow of the American Leadership Forum of Oregon.
Indigenous Community - OCIMO
2004
If you are a farm worker in Oregon,
you are indigena. Over 40% of
recently arrived workers, families are
from our communities
Santiago Ventura, founder
States with high density Indigenous
populations
• Chiapas
• Baja
California
• Oaxaca
• Guerrero
• Veracruz
Communities & Languages in ORE
Michoacan Chiapas
Mazahua
Pu’repecha
(Quechua)
Tarasco
Guerrero
Amuzgo
Mixteco
Nahuatl
Tlapaneco
Copala
Chiapenel
Chol
Jacalteco
Lacandon
Mam
Mocho
Tacaneco
Tectiteco
Tojolabal
Tzeltal
Tzotzil
Zoque
Veracruz
Huasteco
Mazateco
Maya
Nahuatl
Otomi
Popoluca
Tepehua
Totonaca
Jose Hernandez,
astronaut and inventor
of the full field digital
mammograph is a wellknown person of
Pu’repecha descent
Nahuatl part of language group of the Pima, Comanche, Shoshone people in U.S.
Indigenous Languages
Borgia codices
Most are written in pictographs
as the Mixteco codices (left)
Indigenous Community Values
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A territorial space
Religious & belief systems & cosmovisions
Health belief systems & practice
A common history that moves from generation to the
next generation
• A diverse autoctonous language system (non-Euro, or
non - colonial language)
• A social, political, economic, civil and religion
organization
• A community system that administers and enforces
laws and justice (according to Floriberto Diaz, a Mixe
Anthropologist from Oaxaca: Revista Chiapas)
OCHA Commissioners
Sen.
Chip
Shields
Rep.
Chris
Harker
John
Haroldson
Santiago
Ventura
Lupita
Maurer
Carlos
Perez
Prof Gilbert
Carrasco
Alberto
Moreno
Judith
Parker
Cynthia
Gomez
Andrea
Cano
OCHA Mandate
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The Commission is authorized by Oregon Revised Statute 185.310 - 185.330 to:
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Monitor existing programs and legislation designed to meet the needs of
Oregon’s Hispanic population.
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Identify and research problem areas and issues affecting the Hispanic
community and recommend actions to the Governor and the Legislative
Assembly, including recommendations on legislative programs.
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Maintain a liaison between the Hispanic community and government
entities.
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Encourage Hispanic representation on state boards and commissions.
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Hold meetings to conduct its business.
Tasks
• Researches and collates data on issues pertinent to the Hispanic
community.
• Focuses on a statewide context – from the rural, urban, suburban,
and coastal regions—to identify current programs and determine
what gaps exist in social services.
• Refers people to professionals—putting seekers of specific services
together with the individual or organization most capable of
meeting their needs.
• Monitors existing programs that affect the Latino community within
state government and the private sector.
• Develops and monitors legislation that affects the Hispanic/Latino
community in Oregon.
Tasks
• Testifies before the Oregon Legislature on bills and measures deemed
appropriate by the Commission and constituency.
• Encourages Oregon residents to resolve their own local issues in a
positive, productive manner, with appropriate community stakeholders.
• Seeks and identifies emerging Hispanic leadership throughout the state.
• Promotes positive aspects of the Hispanic community.
• Works with its sister advocacy commissions, the Commissions on Women,
Black, and Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs to foster greater community as
well as the implementation and establishment of economic, social, legal
and political equality for minorities in Oregon.
OCHA PRIORITIES
A Culture of Presence, Participation, Perspective
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Leadership - Identify, Develop, Involve
Civic Engagement - Fed, State, Local
Voter Registration & Education
Public Policy on ALL Issues
Diversity of Narratives
Relationships & Community Building
Strategic Legislative Activity & Advocacy
2013 Legislative Session
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PUBLIC SAFETY – Driver card for all Oregonians
EDUCATION – OEIB, Tuition Equity
HOUSING – Anti-discrimination
STATE OF OREGON 10 YEAR PLAN – In process
CIVIL LIBERTIES – Hate Crime
LABOR – Wage theft, contracting, labor rights
HEALTH – Cultural competency, pre-natal care
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – Business
Hispanics in Oregon’s Eligible Voter Population
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The Hispanic population in Oregon is the 19th largest in the nation.4 About
452,000 Hispanics reside in Oregon, 0.9% of all Hispanics in the United States.
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Oregon’s population is 12% Hispanic, the 14th largest Hispanic population share
nationally.
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There are 146,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Oregon—ranking 21st in Hispanic
eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 5.9 million.
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Some 5% of Oregon eligible voters are Hispanic, the 20th largest Hispanic eligible
voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 39%.
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Less than one-in-three (32%) Hispanics in Oregon are eligible to vote, ranking
Oregon 39th nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to
vote. By contrast, 80% of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.
Our
Communities,
Families,
Friends, and
Allies
Fin
Muchisimas gracias!