La Cora

18 x 24 in. Paper Sculpture

The beautiful indigenous population known as Cora’s refer to themselves by a different name: Náayerite in honor of the tribal chief Cora Naye. Cora Naye successfully defended his tribe and maintained the Xécora Kingdom resisting Spanish incursions in 1500. When he died, his remains were preserved and venerated in the mountains of what is now known as the state of Nayarit, Mexico. The name carries the history, battles, victories and pride of both the people and the state.

The state of Nayarit is known for the dance of the machetes, where men dance clanging and tossing their machetes creating sparks in the air. The women dance through the arch of machetes with their arms held high, arched upper back and dramatic swaying of their dress . The women dress in a small flower print ranchera style outfit that reaches their ankles and use a Huichol fan instead of a rebozo or shawl typically seen in other regions.