Madera Tamejavi 2006

In September, 16 2006 the Tamejavi festival traveled outside Fresno with what started out as a mini-version and ended up as a large and very successful event. For the first time, indigenous peoples from the city of Madera proudly hosted Tamejavi at its beautiful Courthouse Park located in the heart of the community. As in the past, this festival reflected the uniqueness of the organizers’ many forms of creativity. This time around, the festival included a parade in which participants walked through some of the streets of downtown Madera. The parade was definitely the highlight of the event because it allowed indigenous peoples living in Madera, as well as immigrants visiting from other communities and performers from out of town, to join together in proudly demonstrating to the public the richness of the culturally diverse landscape of the Valley.

In addition to the parade, as in previous festivals, Tamejavi Madera included an outdoor marketplace where music and dances, along with food and crafts, were exhibited. An array of forums and platicas for exchange and dialogue on pressing topics were held, along with poetry, comedy, videos, and other events that converged and came alive during this one-day celebration.

We are certain that the festival will stand as an historic testament to the dedication and stories of immigrants and refugees in the Central Valley while continuing to enrich and strengthen the lives of these and other communities.