Check Out Renee Millard-Chacon’s Story

Hi Renee, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Renee Millard-Chacon I am Dinè/Mexica with ancestors from Southern Colorado and New Mexico. I am a Sahumadora en Danza Azteca, Youth Program Coordinator at Spirit of the Sun in Denver, Founder and Cultural Educator at Womxn from the Mountain, but most importantly mother of two precious sons. I am determined to be a good ancestor and provide restorative justice for the rest of my life.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Every day is the ceremony, and every day is a challenge or issue to remind me that systemic violence is real, and traumatizes indigenous, Black, and people of color without any care to the injustice. When there is so much toxicity it is important to know how to continually clean and protect our spaces starting with ourselves first. The road to self-love is hard when there are few, to no safe space, to be yourself, even to pray. I have seen struggles of domestic violence, substance abuse, and broken communities but adding insult to injury by then erasing our narratives too is blatant genocide continued. Recently, we were a part of a group collaborative for cultural enrichment for a two to three year community engagement program. We were kicked out from the premises by a church that made their own plans for the spaces, and would not recognize our organization or representation even having previously being a part of the proposal to use the space for Azteca Danza to open the space to indigenous resilience programs and ceremonies to heal. There are few indigenous owned land and spaces to pray even after being recognized and allowed to practice our traditions since 1978 because of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. In fact while we were in the Navy my husband still had to cut his hair and constantly have to submit proof of being a part of NAC just to be told that they still see our practices as cultural and not spiritual, and not something they have to abide by or respect to allow him to go home for ceremonies once or twice a year.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a teacher and a learner of my community work constantly. I hope to be a forever learner in the indigenous view of what it means to truly hold knowledge for others, which means to constantly focus on learning for yourself in creative ways that keep me centered. Creativity comes in spaces that hold free expression of all forms of beauty. I am an Azteca Danzante and Sahumedora, a woman that holds the smoke in Danza Azteca, and honestly movement is my favorite medicine. Every paso holds a story in our Danza, and in life, I also notice the sacred similarities of honoring the paths of those that came before, and most of all learning from them to be better. I don’t think this sets me apart though, I see many seeking to no longer just accept what path they are told, but truly learn what it means to walk with intention and beauty and making it their way of life. I realize now this is not a common practice and our organization has started specializing in introducing this type of transformative education to our communities in today’s modern identity. I’m grateful and proud for all the womxn who have taught me to Love and bring Beauty when I can,

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My biggest supporters has been my family starting with my boys and husband. The countless hours away and the ones still focusing on work at home, have been so humbling, challenging, and fierce. I am so grateful for them loving me and my boys still wanting to go help with my work too. I also have a beautiful network of Tias, Tios, and Leaders/Healers who help me in all the beautiful ways. Shannon Francis, my boss, and friend, inspires me EVERYDAY! My Tia Sharon Dominguez-Lopez, Maria de La Cruz, Debora Montoya, Phylis Cano, Cristina Dominguez, and Micaela Iron Shell are the most giving and powerful womxn I have ever known and honored to know, work with, and call family.

Contact Info:

• Email: reneemchacon@spiritofthesun.org
• Website: Spiritofthesun.org
• Instagram: @reneemchacon
• Facebook: Renee M, Chacon
• Other: womxnfromthemountain.com

Image Credits
Please Credit the Artist for the photos, Edica Pacha @edicapacha on insta and facebook