Diana Moran Thundercloud Spoke at Myrick Park Center
on April 5th, 2023, for Enviro Wednesday.

The Awards relate to her work for MEXICAS – the Order of the Eagle. It is a Warrior/Guerra Award. She also was given another Azteca–Nahuatl name that is very special and connects her to La Madre Tierra.

The award was for her lifelong contribution and upholding our traditional MEXICA way of life, ceremonies, language, and culture. For her international work within the USA, Bolivia, Peru, and Chile regarding sharing the MEXICA traditions for peace and reconciliation. For her own walk as teacher and community activist through our traditions, she has stayed focused too on the teaching on the Day of the Dead and various important issues about Mexico in my own past teaching and volunteer work.

Highest status given as Aguila/Eagle for your walk and intent in life:  your knowledge, walk, and commitment to culture and tradition. I am thrilled. I am also thrilled during these times of anti-immigration and hate in the USA and Mexico—to bring the message that WE CONTINUE–WE ARE STILL HERE. Beyond Borders and Boundaries. It is beautiful to be MEXICA. We come from a long history and tradition. Mexico—our lands and culture and languages are beautiful. We come from ancient history that has remained and is thriving.

They gave out the Award of the Naming of the highest order of nobility to “Caballero Aguila”. In Aztec society is considered “warrior status”. Guerrera.

The Award was given out by the Estado de Hidalgo, Mexico. Country of Mexico. MEXICA ELDERS. Order of the Foundation of Aguila–MEXICAS. Elders and leaders made the selections. I am also part of a ceremonial/traditional group in Xochimilco, Mexico City. I have lived the duality of Mexico and Western Wisconsin all my life. I was asked to submit about my life’s walk and was interviewed–then selected to win the AWARD. It was a three-fold ceremony. I was bestowed a very sacred and powerful name at the ceremony. We each received the name of AGUILA/Eagle and a selected name. I participated in an award ceremony and naming in Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico.

Diana  wrote, “I am MEXICA. We are Tarahumara from the Estado de Chihuahua. Sierra Madres. From my mothers’ people. Corn Clan.  I am very focused on the healing of mother earth through our ceremonies and through various community-based projects. I lecture and have been on a journey to spend time when called in various indigenous communities on my own spiritual path. It is also a path of understanding, dialogue, and creating connections for the future. (USA, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Mexico). I am planning a trip to Oaxaca and Chiapas, Mexico soon.”

“I did not know that I was being considered. I flew down to receive the award. Five awards and names were given out. Three men and two women. I am still stunned. I feel honored and a deep sense of responsibility to our ancestral traditions that are still alive and well!”

“I am very proud to have a mother that instilled our culture at a young age and that I was able to go back and forth and live within our communities in rural and urban Mexico. Mexico is deeply in my spirit and that of my five adult children. I hope that my own grandchildren are raised to be aware of our deep roots and culture. MEXICA. I am proud to be indigenous MEXICA. Many Mexicans and Mexican Americans— Chicano/as—- live the duality of two worlds. I have been lucky to spend extended time in Mexico as I was very close to my own grandmother in Chihuahua.”

“I have been living between Mexico City and Western Wisconsin for the past few years. I have also spent time in Chihuahua. Mexico. Sierra Madres. My mother’s family is from Chihuahua, Durango, and Puebla. I am considered Traditional. I am also proud of my community participation with our extended families within the Dakota, Ho-Chunk, and Annissinabe communities of Wisconsin and Minnesota. I feel a greater responsibility to our Mexican communities in Western Wisconsin regarding issues of tradition during these historic times. Regardless of migration the MEXICA traditions have remained. My focus is on having our children and great-grandchildren know that we come from Beauty and strength. I have also worked on peace through writing, art, and ceremonies in areas of high conflict in Mexico. My focus has been healing, peace, and reconciliation for the earth, water, and our people. I am very honored to be indigenous with deep roots to the country of Mexico through my mother. My father’s family has deep roots in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. I was raised by my mother between La Crosse and the Southwest and Mexico. I spent years working back and forth from Mexico and the Southwest. I consider El Paso, Texas–La Frontera and Chihuahua to be our other homelands too. I now divide my time between Mexico City and Western Wisconsin.”

______________________

Diana Elena Moran Sanchez Thundercloud, EdD.

Completed  doctorate as of December 2021. Edgewood College, Madison, Wisconsin. Educational Leadership (K-12 Education & Community Based Education.) Critical Indigenous Studies & Feminist Studies. Focus on Social Innovation and Sustainability Graduate Studies. Diana is a licensed Superintendent and Director of Special Education with a focus on Language, Culture, and Communities.

Diana is currently an independent Consultant through “Moran Thundercloud Consulting” and is affiliated staff to Edgewood College (Madison, Wisconsin) as a Dissertation Advisor and Educational Researcher. She works to mentor and help conceptualize the writing and completion of the doctorate. She is focused on Native Indigenous, Lation/a, and African American students—–she works with students from the Midwest and nationally—internationally. She is affiliated faculty and the Nominations Chair for the Midwest Consortium on Latin American and Caribbean Studies—UW-Milwaukee Latin American Studies Department. She is focused on human and civil rights. Environmental Justice in las Americas/Indian Country. Gender and Human Rights.

She is a UW-LaCrosse Alumni, UW-Madison Alumni, Saint Mary’s of Minnesota Alumni, Viterbo University Alumni, and Edgewood College Alumni. She is part of the Master of Business Administration/MBA and Master oF Servant Leadership/MASL Advisory Alumni Board for Viterbo University.

She is part of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for AAUW this year! She has been on the Scholarship Committee (High School) in the past for AAUW-LaCrosse. Very proud to be part of AAUW! She is the first generation to attend college and a teenage mother.

Diana Elena Moran Sanchez Thundercloud
<dmoranthundercloud@gmail.com>