By Michelle HackneyContributor
In the midst of a scientific age, there is still a need for humantouch and traditional wisdom.
Alex Gomez, lecturer in the department of chicano and chicanastudies at San Diego State University, expounds on this wisdom andthe evolution of folk healers in his documentary, Curanderos in theNew Millennium.
The 40-minute film is based on the blending of healing arts thatare embraced by curanderos in the Southwestern United States. Itshows the development of curanderismo and the combination of culturesthat have influenced the art in the Latin traditions throughout theyears. Gomez says the film has been labeled “National Geographicmaterial” and has been accepted and approved by KPBS for viewing onthe television show, NOVA.
“State-of-the-art DIGIBETA equipment, like that that George Lucasis using for Star Wars, was used for production of this film, so Iknow it’s high quality material,” Gomez said.
A Curandero is a folk healer or “medicine person” who uses herbs,plants, magic and spiritualism to treat illness and induce vision.
The healer asks God for help and divination and often perform”limpias” (cleansings of the soul) to eradicate infirmity and toabsorb positive energy. Limpias are done with various tools such aseggs, feathers, crystals and deer skins. The instrument is firstblessed and then passed across the body. Herbs, such as Romero,Salvia (sage) and Una de Gato are burned as the healer prayscontinually throughout the cleansing.
Gomez says he became fascinated with the art at an early agebecause his grandmother is a curandera. As a child, he often sawthings that he could not put in plain words and realized it wouldtake something more than science to explain them.
“I’ve seen some real X-File things and respect this so much, Imean there had to be an explanation for the transfer of energy formone body to the other or the modification of molecules it takes toheal a person, so I had to find out,” Gomez said.
The project began as a home video in which Gomez traveled from SanYsidro to Texas interviewing curanderos. He submitted the piece toGeorge Eversheim of AXS Studios in Germany, where it was immediatelyaccepted at the University of Hamburg as “cutting edge” material.
“I was astounded at how fast George responded,” Gomez said. “Hequickly flew to San Diego with all this high-tech equipment and webegan traveling for more footage.”
The two journeyed into Baja California, Sonora, Ensenada and asfar as Texas while researching the film which has taken two years toproduce.
Gomez hopes to prove that curanderismo touches all social classes.He argues that it is no longer practiced only in indigenous cultures,but is also popping up in modern places, such as hospitals.
“We tend to be more scientific, but I’ve found, that there is adoctor at Alvarado Hospital here in San Diego who uses thesepractices,” he said. “I also met another curandera in New Mexico whois an M.D.”
Despite the lucrative amount of footage that’s been developed,Gomez says he is coming up short on funds to buy it. This could ruinthe chances of it airing on NOVA and could wreck the possibility forpeople to learn of its magnitude.
“I find the topic of this film to be of great importance and issomething that needed to be addressed in this manner, so it wasessential to use high quality gear, well, that means high costs too,”Gomez said. “The contract paid for 70 percent of the costs, but todate, I have struggled to pay $12,000 out of my pocket and am stilldesperately searching for about $5,000 more to cover the editingprocess.”
Gomez said that Curanderismo in the New Millennium confirms thatit doesn’t matter how modern this world is, there is somethingspiritual that can override science.
“Because of my passion for this, I’ve researched for many yearsand found that something is still alive today, even in theSouthwest.”
For more information on the documentary or to inquire how todonate for production of the film, call (619) 534-6452 or email Gomezat alexgomez2@hotmail.com.
