The Uncolonized: Axihuical

I will be presenting multimedia works from my Latine Futuristic Uncolonized series. The world of the Uncolonized: Axihuical explores a parallel world, where the Western Hemisphere averted colonization, and the indigenous people of the lands thrived unobstructed. This body of work celebrates the indigenous heritage of people like me and is intended to invoke interest into the untaught histories of our Mesoamerican legacy. Growing up Mexican American, I was taught to take pride in my Mexican heritage, but what that meant was never clearly defined. My family spoke of Spanish lineage, but our indigenous half was met with confusion or generalizations. I later learned many Latino/as had similar experiences. This led me to research my ancestry and their civilizations. What I discovered was a culturally rich lineage of highly sophisticated and technologically advanced peoples. From the vulcanization of rubber (Olmec) to advanced mathematics (Maya) to architectural wonders (Mexica), there was a lot to learn and be proud of. This body of work aims to inspire others to research their own affluent heritages and fully embrace their complex ancestry through a Latine Futuristic lense. This is a utopian world, where our timeline diverged, and the indigenous peoples united to form a superpower. A world of Aztechnonauts exploring the heavens; Mayathmaticians unlocking the secrets of the universe; Olmechemists creating new polymers and Zapotechnical engineers building the architecture of the future. It is a Sci-Fi-inspired vision of not what could have been, but through multiverse theory, what is currently happening in another universe.