Florentino Solano and Natalia Toledo talk to Yásnaya Elena Aguilar

Join us for a compelling evening as Yásnaya Elena Aguilar, a leading Mixe linguist and cultural advocate, moderates a conversation with two of Mexico’s most prominent indigenous voices, Natalia Toledo and Florentino Solano. This discussion will focus on the profound importance of indigenous languages and cultures, and their enduring influence on both traditional and contemporary Mexican society.

In this conversation, Toledo, a celebrated Zapotec poet and translator, will share her insights into how language shapes cultural expression and identity, drawing from her rich heritage to create poetry that resonates on both a personal and communal level. Solano, a Tlapanec writer and translator, will delve into the role of storytelling in preserving and transmitting the knowledge and traditions of his people, emphasizing the power of indigenous narratives in the broader literary landscape.

Moderated by Aguilar, the discussion will highlight the urgent need to preserve indigenous languages as living, evolving entities that carry the histories, philosophies, and worldviews of their communities. This event underscores the significance of these languages not only for those who speak them but for the cultural diversity and richness they contribute to the world.

Simultaneous interpretation from Spanish to English available