a week with guest anthropologist lic rafael vasquez guerrero · 2019. 9. 16. · lic rafael vasquez...

A Week with Guest Anthropologist LIC Rafael Vasquez Guerrero - 1 A Week with Guest Anthropologist LIC Rafael Vasquez Guerrero 11/01/2017 LIC Rafael Vasquez Guerrero in the town El Milagro, Peru (Summer 2017). In Mid October, the anthropology program had a special guest from Trujillo, Peru give a lecture at the Museum of Anthroplogy. LIC Rafael Vasquez Guerrero is the past Director of the College of Anthropologists in Peru and was the archaeologist of record at the archaeological site Chan Chan for many years. His recent work includes running a nonprofit organization, cultural reconstruction, and cultural heritage reenactments. Rafael has worked with Dr. Bonnie Glass-Coffin for many years as a friend and colleague, and as such, was willing to offer his help on the Summer 2017 ethnographic field school in Huanchaco and Trujillo, Peru. In the beginning of 2017, heavy El Nino rains and flooding struck throughout Peru, and many cities and communities were greatly damaged. One town hit hardest by the flooding is called El Milagro (Spanish for "The Miracle"). El Milagro is a squatter settlement near Trujillo, a town for refugees from all over Peru. Already internally displaced, the El Nino flooding made people in El Milagro refugees once again as they lost nearly everything, including their jobs, homes, clothing, and food. Rafael, Dr. Michelle Grocke, Dr. Bonnie Glass-Coffin, program assistant Becky Montoya, and USU Anthropology students immediately began raising funds to provide basic necessities and aid. Rafael acted as the in-country liason for the people in El Milagro and the field school before, during, and after USU students arrived in Peru. Rafael discussed these events, and the other adventures of the field school, in his lecture at the museum. During his stay in Logan, Dr. Glass-Coffin and the field school students returned the favor of hospitality by showing Rafael some American things to do, eat, and see. In just one week, Rafael experienced everything from smores and a campfire to country swing dancing to anthropology classes at USU. He ate pizza and hot dogs as well as eating at Herm's Inn and trying Aggie Ice Cream! The student's favorite part, aside from spending time with Rafael, was getting to hear about their friends in El Milagro. Rafael brought nothing but good news! Since the field school's conclusion in July, the women in El Milagro have started up a business making and selling art and handcrafts to tourists and locals in Trujillo. With this business, the women will be able to raise money to support their families and contribute to the community of El Milagro's rebuilding. (To make a donation in support of El Milagro, visit McKinley in OM245 or email [email protected].) (To make a donation in support of El Milagro, visit McKinley in OM245 or email [email protected].)

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A Week with Guest Anthropologist LIC Rafael Vasquez Guerrero - 1

A Week with GuestAnthropologist LIC RafaelVasquez Guerrero

11/01/2017

LIC Rafael Vasquez Guerrero in the town El Milagro, Peru(Summer 2017).

In Mid October, the anthropology program had a specialguest from Trujillo, Peru give a lecture at the Museum ofAnthroplogy. LIC Rafael Vasquez Guerrero is the pastDirector of the College of Anthropologists in Peru and wasthe archaeologist of record at the archaeological site ChanChan for many years. His recent work includes running anonprofit organization, cultural reconstruction, and culturalheritage reenactments. Rafael has worked with Dr. BonnieGlass-Coffin for many years as a friend and colleague, andas such, was willing to offer his help on the Summer 2017ethnographic field school in Huanchaco and Trujillo, Peru.In the beginning of 2017, heavy El Nino rains and floodingstruck throughout Peru, and many cities and communitieswere greatly damaged. One town hit hardest by theflooding is called El Milagro (Spanish for "The Miracle").El Milagro is a squatter settlement near Trujillo, a town forrefugees from all over Peru. Already internally displaced,the El Nino flooding made people in El Milagro refugeesonce again as they lost nearly everything, including theirjobs, homes, clothing, and food. Rafael, Dr. MichelleGrocke, Dr. Bonnie Glass-Coffin, program assistant BeckyMontoya, and USU Anthropology students immediatelybegan raising funds to provide basic necessities and aid.Rafael acted as the in-country liason for the people in ElMilagro and the field school before, during, and after USUstudents arrived in Peru.

Rafael discussed these events, and the other adventuresof the field school, in his lecture at the museum. Duringhis stay in Logan, Dr. Glass-Coffin and the field school

students returned the favor of hospitality by showingRafael some American things to do, eat, and see. In justone week, Rafael experienced everything from smoresand a campfire to country swing dancing to anthropologyclasses at USU. He ate pizza and hot dogs as well aseating at Herm's Inn and trying Aggie Ice Cream!

The student's favorite part, aside from spending timewith Rafael, was getting to hear about their friendsin El Milagro. Rafael brought nothing but good news!Since the field school's conclusion in July, the womenin El Milagro have started up a business making andselling art and handcrafts to tourists and locals in Trujillo.With this business, the women will be able to raisemoney to support their families and contribute to thecommunity of El Milagro's rebuilding. (To make a donationin support of El Milagro, visit McKinley in OM245 or [email protected].)

(To make a donation in support of El Milagro, visitMcKinley in OM245 or email [email protected].)

http://anthropology.usu.edu/museum/indexhttp://anthropology.usu.edu/museum/indexhttps://usuinperu.wordpress.com/https://usuinperu.wordpress.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
A Week with Guest Anthropologist LIC Rafael Vasquez Guerrero - 2