A Lesson in Language and Ancestry

Chef Sánchez guided participants not only through a culinary tradition, but also through the sounds and stories of Nahuatl, the Indigenous language he inherited from his grandfather. Several of his poems, written in Nahuatl, served as the linguistic centerpiece of the event.

While Sánchez cooked, attendees in the adjacent space learned Nahuatl vocabulary through interactive games and presentations designed by members of CLaSE and MASA. Through scavenger hunts, word searches, and a presentation by Abraham De Jesús and Jonas Cruz-Morales (MASA), participants discovered how widely Nahuatl still resonates today, including in familiar English words such as chocolate, avocado, and chile. They also learned that Nahuatl continues to be spoken across communities in Puebla, the region surrounding Mexico City, and the states of Guerrero and Veracruz.

Cooking Milpa Soup, Sharing Knowledge

In the Teaching & Learning Kitchen at the Freeman Dining Hall, Sánchez prepared Milpa soup, a seasonal dish traditional to Indigenous communities from the Puebla region. Joined by 15–16 students and faculty “co-chefs,” he shared anecdotes, cultural insights, and culinary secrets, turning the kitchen into a vibrant space of storytelling and discovery.

His knowledge, generosity, and lively personality filled the room. As he chopped, stirred, and seasoned, he described the significance of each ingredient, from Indigenous herbs and spices to the special Mexican salt he brought with him, essential to the flavors of his cuisine. Once the cooking session concluded, the Freeman Dining Hall staff served the Milpa soup. Everyone gathered at one long table to enjoy the rich flavors and shared experience, transforming lunch into a moment of community.

An Intergenerational Journey

Over the meal, Sánchez recounted his personal journey: how his grandfather taught him Nahuatl, how he built a life and community in Freehold after arriving in the U.S., and how the passing of his grandfather and the birth of his son sparked a renewed commitment to reclaiming the Nahuatl language.

His son represented the future, his grandfather the past and Nahuatl, their shared language, became the bridge between them. “But something was still missing,” he reflected. “It wasn’t until I began cooking again, reconnecting with the flavors of home, the ingredients that tasted different here, that I realized that food was the final piece. Using Indigenous ingredients, herbs, and spices completed me.”

Chef Sánchez emphasized that returning to one’s roots is always possible. “Forgetting your language,” he told the audience, “is like breaking the mirror where you see yourself.” His message deeply resonated with many of the Latino/Hispanic students present, who saw in his story both inspiration and encouragement to preserve their own heritage languages and cultural traditions.

A Poetic Ending

The event concluded with a reading of one of Sánchez’s poems in Nahuatl, followed by its English translation, a moment that left the audience in quiet awe.

Jennifer Bostedo, Director of Dining and Wellness at Freeman Hall, reflected on the evening’s success:

“Gourmet Dining is delighted to collaborate with our campus community to create culinary experiences that build awareness of global cuisines and food issues, expand the palate, and celebrate the cultures that connect us. Our Teaching Kitchen becomes a space where students and staff can share, grow, and learn through programming that honors our students’ cultural heritages. Traditional foodways offer not only flavor and aroma, but even poetry in Indigenous Nahuatl. We are deeply grateful to chef Irwin, CLaSE and Dr. Calarota-Ninman, MASA, the Department of Spanish and Latino Studies, Professor Fogel, and the entire community for this vibrant feast.”

At the close of the event, Bostedo announced that her team plans to submit this event to the North American College and University Food Service Association (NACUFS) for consideration in next year’s awards cycle. Winners are typically selected in June, and, as she added with enthusiasm, “I would be truly surprised if our combined efforts, and Chef Irwin’s incredible talent, don’t receive recognition in one of the categories.”

Jonas Cruz-Morlaes, President of the Mexican-American Student Association (MASA) reflected on the successful event.

“MASA was truly honored to take part in this meaningful cultural event and to collaborate with CLaSE, the Gourmet Dining staff, and chef Irwin Sánchez. As an organization whose mission it is to promote Mexican cultural awareness, traditions, and representation on campus, opportunities like these enable us to carry out our mission in a powerful and tangible way. The possibility of sharing fragments of our heritage through our language, foodways, and stories brings a sense of belonging to the student community, while reminding many of us of home.

We are incredibly thankful that so many campus offices understand the importance of celebrating culture and heritage and continue to create spaces where student voices and lived experiences are valued. It is through partnerships like this one that we are able to bring visibility to indigenous languages such as Nahuatl and Zapoteco, highlight the richness of Mexican culinary traditions, and faster cross-cultural learning among students, faculty, and staff.

For MASA and myself, this event was more than a collaboration, it was a reminder that our roots lie in resilience and beauty. Watching students and faculty learn about Nahuatl, taste the Milpa soup, and learn from Chef Irwin Sanchez’s personnel journey showed how culture and build bridges, strengthen identity, and spark pride in our origins. We look forward to continuing this work, expanding opportunities for our campus community to learn, connect, and celebrate together.”

, director of CLaSE, concludes with her reflections: “It’s truly a blessing when students, faculty, staff, talented professionals from other communities get together to learn, to celebrate, to inspire, and to share how food, language and culture can reunite generations, can lift our souls and reinforce that bridge between past, present and future.”

Organized by LAIC – the Latin American Indigenous Collaborative at CLaSE, this initiative stands as a testament to the growing interest in and commitment to Indigenous languages and the rich cultural traditions of the Pueblos Originarios of the Americas. For the duration of ten weeks, participants met every Monday evening to study Kichwa—the language of the Kichwa people of Ecuador—and to explore the values, worldview, and ancestral knowledge embedded in this living language.

The workshops were led by a Kichwa instructor from the Otavalo community, Atik Paguay, whose powerful presence first became part of our campus last November when they inaugurated our center, CLaSE, with a ceremonial inauguration grounded in Indigenous wisdom. Their return to lead this course brought continuity, depth, and authenticity to a program that quickly captured attention and hearts across campus.

From the very start, the workshop series saw full enrollment, an active waitlist, and a classroom full of enthusiastic learners each week. The energy in the room grew with each session, as students connected not only with the language but also with the stories, art, traditions, and values that it carries. The final session concluded with a celebratory gathering featuring food, laughter, and the presentation of Certificates of Completion to both the instructor and each participant organized by the director of CLaSE, Dr. Antonella Calarota-Ninman.

This moment is more than a course completion, it is a landmark in our university’s evolving relationship with Indigenous knowledge, language preservation, and cultural respect. It reflects a deep and growing awareness of the importance of centering and uplifting the voices and traditions of Indigenous communities.

As we look ahead, we are energized by the response to this workshop series and committed to continuing our support for Indigenous communities, language revitalization efforts, and intercultural understanding. The success of this course is only the beginning. Through LAIC at CLaSE, and in partnership with community leaders and cultural experts, we aim to expand offerings, support second-level courses, and welcome more opportunities for dialogue, learning, and solidarity.

We celebrate this meaningful step forward—and all those who walked the journey with us.

Keep in touch if you’d like to learn more and register for our next free Kichwa Language and Culture workshop series by writing to Dr. Antonella Calarota-Ninman at calarotaa@montclair.edu

Part I: The Journey Begins – Gallery Walk

The event opened with an immersive gallery walk that invited visitors into the landscapes and experiences of Bolivia. Through photographs and videos collected during a 2024 educational field trip, participants walked a circular path—symbolically modeled after el tejido de la vida (“the web of life”) by Bolivian artist Erlini Chové. The exhibit recreated the group’s journey through Aymara lands, ancestral sites, and encounters with local communities, offering a multisensory exploration that felt both personal and collective.

Part II: Live Keynote from Bolivia – Erlini Chové

The heart of the afternoon came with a live keynote address by Erlini Chové (Erlini Tola Medina), joining us from Bolivia. A poet, artist, and community knowledge keeper, Chové shared reflections rooted in Aymara thought and her woven philosophy of el tejido de la vida. Speaking in poetic and deeply moving language, she celebrated life, joy, and the unity of all beings—drawing listeners into a fantastic-realist vision of forests, rivers, mountains, and all forms of life. Her address reminded us that we are all connected, no matter where we are in the world.

During her talk, Chové read her short story El niño y el árbol (“The Boy and the Tree”) and generously gifted us with two of her paintings, which were displayed in the gallery walk. In return, we found a meaningful way to give back: as part of the event, participants were invited to create their own web of life drawings, inspired by Erlini’s philosophy and artistic style. This activity became a powerful, emotional moment of the day.

Children, students, adults, and elders all sat together—drawing, reflecting, and sharing what they were creating. Though Erlini joined us virtually via Zoom, participants spoke aloud about their drawings so she could experience the room and feel part of the gathering. Many people expressed that this moment awakened deep emotions and helped them connect to their roots, memories, and sense of self in new and profound ways.

At the heart of this activity was not only the creation of symbolic drawings but also the expression of reciprocity, a core value in Indigenous traditions. Just as Erlini shared her art and spirit with us, we collected everyone’s drawings and will be sending images of them back to her—a gesture of gratitude and mutual exchange.

Part III: Reflection Circle & Celebration

The event closed with a bilingual reflection circle, where members of the Bolivia field trip shared stories, insights, and powerful moments from their travels. The audience—composed of students, educators, families, and community members—joined the conversation with heartfelt questions and comments. The joy, vulnerability, and connection carried through into a festive gathering with Bolivian music, food, and open conversation, helping to nurture new friendships and a growing sense of community.

An Event Rooted in Connection

A standout feature of the day was the presence of seven university educators from across the United States—including institutions in Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, and New Mexico—who had taken part in a December 2024 field trip to Bolivia. This journey, organized by the Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center at Florida International University, gave participants the opportunity to engage directly with Aymara culture, Bolivian intellectuals and artists, traditional architecture, and sacred landscapes such as Lake Titicaca, Isla del Sol, and the ancient camino inca. Dr. Antonella Calarota-Ninman, director of CLaSE, also joined the group in this immersive experience.

Their presence at the event brought deep insight and cross-regional perspectives, enriching every part of the day.

A Lasting Impact

Explore Your World: Voices from Bolivia was more than just a cultural event—it was a space of discovery, dialogue, and unity. It brought together people of many different social, cultural, ethnic, and ideological backgrounds, and created room for shared stories, open hearts, and collective celebration. At its core, the event reminded us of the importance of listening to diverse voices, honoring Indigenous knowledge, and recognizing the threads that connect us all.

Through poetic language, artistic exchange, and heartfelt participation, the event left many with a renewed sense of connection—to themselves, to others, and to the Earth. And with each drawing, each conversation, and each step on that circular gallery walk, the tejido de la vida grew a little stronger.