This August 7, 8, and 9, Sihkru Tara is celebrated – the binational meeting of Miskito and Afro-descendant indigenous peoples of Nicaragua and Honduras will be held in the municipalities of Waspam and Bilwi, Puerto Cabezas (Nicaragua) and will culminate with the celebration of the International Day of Indigenous Peoples.
The tradition celebrates 17 years of holding this event, they exchange knowledge and ancestral wisdom, in addition to celebrating with activities such as forums, gastronomic fairs, cultural and musical presentations, mystical dances, among others.
A millenary tradition that reunites us with the past
Sihkru Tara is held annually and has a spiritual background. It is an ancient practice that involves communication with the afterlife. It is recognized as one of the most important traditions within the communities and indigenous peoples of the Nicaraguan and Honduran Mosquitias.
“For us indigenous peoples, it is very important to celebrate the Sihkru Tara because it has a history that has been going on for many years ago and this was celebrated as a great festivity in honor of our dead people, when there was an indigenous dead, instead of taking him to the church, at that time, they did it through a celebration of Sihkru Tara. Talking about Sihkru Tara is something quite broad, but the meaning for us is very important, not only the dances or singing but also to remember and strengthen our tradition of the collectivity of indigenous peoples,” said Nancy Henriquez, leader of the Nicaraguan Mosquitia and delegate to the Coordinator of Territorial Women Leaders of Mesoamerica (CMLT).The event will feature a special broadcast, which will provide a summary of the celebration, produced jointly by the Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests (AMPB), TV Indígena, and networks of community communicators of YATAMA and the Honduran Mosquitia, through the Facebook platform by clicking on Sihkru Tara 2021, Monday, August 9 at 4:00 p.m. Central America, 5:00 pm. Panama and Mexico.