Creating community: Utah group honors oaxaqueño culture

Norma Carver, founder of Oaxaca en Utah, participates in a fashion show wearing a "huipil," a clothing typical of Triqui region of Oaxaca.

Norma Carver, founder of Oaxaca en Utah, participates in a fashion show wearing a "huipil," a clothing typical of Triqui region of Oaxaca. (Sydnee Gonzalez, KSL.com)


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NORTH SALT LAKE — Norma Carver felt a certain sense of melancholy when she moved to Utah 14 years ago.

She had already left her parents, friends and culture when she moved from Oaxaca, Mexico, to Wisconsin at 19 a few years prior. But moving to Utah as a newlywed with her husband meant leaving behind one of the few pieces of Oaxaca she'd had in the States: her sisters.

"My sadness grew," Carver told KSL.com in Spanish. "I missed the food. I missed my family. I missed everything."

Her first impression of Utah was positive, in spite of — or perhaps because of her homesickness. She said the hills and valley of Salt Lake looked a lot like her hometown, Guadalupe Nuevo Centro.

But finding her people in the Beehive State proved to be a little more difficult.

Carver tried, unsuccessfully, to find restaurantes oaxaqueños during her first few years in Utah. When her daughter was born, she felt an even greater need for community and finally found one other family from Oaxaca, the Maldonados, in her congregation at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Over the years, Carver and the Maldonados slowly grew their small oaxaqueño community.

It wasn't until 2022, however, that Carver decided to officially establish Oaxaca en Utah as a nonprofit organization that celebrates and educates about oaxaqueño culture, traditions, food and Indigenous languages. The nonprofit has since been able to share its culture from Logan to Springville and is looking for sponsors to help continue and expand its work, including Indigenous language workshops.

The nonprofit also hosts an annual celebration for Guelaguetza, a folk festival held each summer in Oaxaca featuring food, textiles, dances and more from each of Oaxaca's eight unique regions. Carver's first Guelaguetza in Utah was made up of just seven families in 2020. Two years later, an estimated 7,000 attended the Guelaguetza celebration.

Oaxaca en Utah will hold this year's Guelaguetza on July 22 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Heritage Park in Kaysville.

"When the oaxaqueño community here started, we loved it because we thought there weren't a lot of people from Oaxaca in Utah," volunteer Reyna Gomez said in Spanish. "What Norma (Carver) did with the organization is unite us. We were scattered before."


Oaxaca en Utah is my family. It's my family that I left in Wisconsin and in Oaxaca. For me, it's one of the most precious things I have. I've put in a lot of work and hours into it because it's my family, and I love every member that comes.

–Norma Carver, Oaxaca en Utah founder


For Carver, the group is much more than just a nonprofit or an opportunity to put on cultural events.

"Oaxaca en Utah is my family," she said. "It's my family that I left in Wisconsin and in Oaxaca. For me, it's one of the most precious things I have. I've put in a lot of work and hours into it because it's my family, and I love every member that comes."

Breaking down stereotypes, passing on traditions

Oaxaca, which has one of the largest Indigenous populations in Mexico, often gets saddled with negative stereotypes.

"Oaxaca has been one of the states where there is a stereotype. They say that we're 'Indios (a Spanish term sometimes used as an insult towards Indigenous people),' that we're not educated, that we're short, dark-skinned and ugly," Carver said, adding that part of her vision for the nonprofit is to change those perceptions. "We want people to not be embarrassed of who they are but to be proud of who they are and to develop the beautiful potential that each one of us has."

For volunteer Ofelia Bazan, being involved in Oaxaca en Utah has accomplished that goal. She moved from Oaxaca to the U.S. with her parents at 4 years old.

"Personally, I never would have worn my traditional clothing here. I was a little embarrassed," Bazan said in Spanish. "But with the time I've been with Oaxaca en Utah, wearing that clothing has brought me a lot of pride. I want to know more about where I come from, about Oaxaca."

Ofelia Bazan, right, walks down the runway with her daughter, Itzy, and husband Francisco. The family it wearing clothing typical de La Cañada region of Oaxaca.
Ofelia Bazan, right, walks down the runway with her daughter, Itzy, and husband Francisco. The family it wearing clothing typical de La Cañada region of Oaxaca. (Photo: Sydnee Gonzalez, KSL.com)

Both Bazan and Carver say Oaxaca en Utah has also been an opportunity to pass on their culture to their children. Carver's teenage daughter, for example, teaches traditional dance to a group of younger girls.

"We want Oaxaca en Utah to be a benefit for these kids. First, so they can find their own identity. It is so important for them to know where they come from and to connect with their roots," Carver said. "Second, that they can use Oaxaca en Utah as a platform to develop their talents."

Frida Montero, 13, is the daughter of two Mexican immigrants. Before joining Oaxaca en Utah, Frida said she didn't know much about Mexican culture.

"Since I've been with the group and with the people, I've learned a lot," she said. "Everyone thinks that Mexicans are like a stereotype, that everyone wears the same thing and everyone acts the same — but it's not. There are so many types of people and they all act and dress differently."

Frida Montero,13, walks down the runway. Frida Montero, 13, is Her outfit combines a traditional huipil dress with modern touches like gold hoops and sparkly chanclas.
Frida Montero,13, walks down the runway. Frida Montero, 13, is Her outfit combines a traditional huipil dress with modern touches like gold hoops and sparkly chanclas. (Photo: Sydnee Gonzalez, KSL.com)

Husband and wife Jeronimo Bazan-Alavez y Calixta Chávez are a testament to the diversity and richness within Oaxaca and Mexico more broadly. The couple makes wool textiles for a living, ranging from blankets and rugs to clothing. Bazan-Alavez said the items are based on the designs and drawings of their ancestors.

"I'm proud of the group and for getting to know more of our people from Oaxaca," said Chávez, who's lived in Utah with her husband for about 19 years. "Before, we didn't know there were so many people from Oaxaca here."

Carver added that Oaxaca en Utah is open to everyone, especially those who aren't Mexican and don't have the opportunity to travel to Mexico themselves to see the diverse cultures, foods and traditions of the country and of Oaxaca, specifically.

Calixta Chávez, right, and husband Jeronimo Bazan-Alavez prepare to walk down the runway in clothing from their village Teotitlan del Valle.
Calixta Chávez, right, and husband Jeronimo Bazan-Alavez prepare to walk down the runway in clothing from their village Teotitlan del Valle. (Photo: Sydnee Gonzalez, KSL.com)

"Come and join our community," she said. "We have space for volunteers, for dancers, for teachers."

Liliana Keyes, originally from Peru, has taken Carver up on that offer.

"Even though we are in Utah, she's promoting the continuation of our roots, where we come from and mainly our heritage," Keyes said. "This is something that should not be lost, we have a lot of good things in the Hispanic community."

For more information about the organization, visit oaxacaenutah.org/ or facebook.com/OaxacaenUtah/.

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Sydnee Chapman Gonzalez is a reporter and recent Utah transplant. She works at the Utah Investigative Journalism Project and was previously at KSL.com and the Wenatchee World in Washington. Her reporting has focused on marginalized communities, homelessness and local government. She grew up in Arizona and has lived in various parts of Mexico. During her free time, she enjoys hiking, traveling, rock climbing and embroidery.

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