LATINO HERITAGE OF THE NATIVE PEOPLES OF THE AMERICAS
Latino heritage is the inclusive name that refers to the peoples from different countries of the American continent who live in the United States of America (USA).
The historical background of the Latino heritage is summarized by Eduardo Galeano in his book “The Open Veins of Latin America” when he states: “In America we all have Native blood. Some in our veins and others on our hands.” This phrase by Galeano is also connected to the history of colonialism and neocolonialism in the Americas and Caribbean.
The Latino/a/e people have a political consciousness, which is growing stronger every day, regarding the Latino heritage and everything that this historical phenomenon brings with it. With the arrival of the Latin culture from Europe to Latin America, the plundering of the land, the territory, the culture, ancestral wisdom and the spirituality of the native peoples begins. At the same time, the imposition of a different culture and religion by violent and arbitrary means began. Galeano also says: “They came. They had the Bibleand we had the land. And they told us: Close your eyes and pray. And when we opened our eyes, they had the land and we had the Bible.” Since then, the native peoples adopted peaceful resistance as a deterrent political instrument so that their land and territory would be returned, and to defend the Ancestral Spirituality of the native peoples.
This struggle for human rights and for the indigenous peoples, which moves between persecution, resistance and hope, continues to this day as a cry for liberation, justice and the vindication of the human rights of peoples and nature.
Two important dates that express part of the Latino heritage: September 15th/16th with the Independence Day of Mexico and Central America, and October 12th with the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the Americas. During this time, these events arecommemorated—called in the United States of America "Hispanic Heritage” or preferably the more inclusive term, “Latiné” Heritage" –which recalls the arrival of the conquerors from Europe and the signing of the independence of some countries in the American continent.
However, the signing of the independence marks the change of hands of the subjugation of the peoples and the plundering of their property and now it is the large multinational corporations and the extracting industry, whose voracity uses political, military, economic and religious strategies and mechanisms to exercise their political hegemony over the countries and therefore over the peoples. This results in anincreased gap of socioeconomic inequality between the industrialized countries that achieved their development at the cost of theft, plunder and plunder of the peoples of the south.
The Latiné people displaced in many countries around the world have had to leave their country of origin, maintain the faith, in pursuit of freedom, well-being, justice and peace. That is why they gather together, seeking communion and coexistence; to live their Spirituality, to maintain their culture, language, traditions and ancestral wisdom.
The Latiné Lutheran Ministry in the Quad Cities is a space where the community brings its testimony of faith and life to contribute to the Latiné identity through spirituality, the celebration of faith and hope through the Word and the Eucharist in the mother tongue,and through sharing food and solidarity, aware of the interaction with diverse cultures in the deep longing for respect, recognition and peaceful coexistence. In this context, the Latiné community celebrates holidays and traditions, such as the Day of the Dead, the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Las Posadas during Christmas, King’s Day, etc. The Latiné people carry their hearts full of gratitude for all the solidarity they receive daily in each place where they live.
The Latiné people walk in the Hope of the liberation that the Kingdom of God brings us here and now. Amen.
-Rev. José Pilar Álvarez Cabrera, pastor
Iglesia San José Obrero, Moline IL
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Rev. José Pilar Álvarez Cabrera was born in Guatemala. He is a pastor, theologian, activist and defender of human rights. He is the founding Pastor and Pastor President(2014-2022) of the ILUGUA (Lutheran Church in Guatemala), a member of the Lutheran World Federation. He is currently serving the Latiné Ministry of Word and Sacrament in two faith communities (Camino de Emaús Church in Davenport, Iowa and San Jose Obrero Church in Moline, Illinois) in the Quad Cities of the U.S.
