Dating back 3,000 years, originally día de los muertos was more than one or two days of celebration, it was an entire season which coincided with the harvest. A time when homage is paid to ancestors with prayers, offerings of food, and the building of altars to the beloved departed. Cultural Coalition invites people to reconnect to this ancient indigenous vision at the 13th Annual MIKIZTLI: Día de los Muertos PHX Festival on Sunday, October 27 from 2 to 7 p.m. at Steele Indian School Park.

Mikiztli – pronounced [meeh-keesh-tleeh] – means “transition” and is symbolized by the “calaca” or “the smiling skull”. This free family friendly festival has been beloved by Phoenicians for over a decade due its respect for both the Latiné and Indigenous cultural heritage origins. It invites the community to share in traditional practices such as the community altar, curandera healing arts, writing of penas, and the sunset candlelight procession that kicks off the celebratory dance party.

NEW THIS YEAR, Indigenous Enterprise will bring their full dance line-up to headline the festival with TWO cultural dance performances to start and finish the sunset procession. Representing a diverse range of tribes and nations through the rich and vibrant traditions of powwow lifeways, their highly skilled and accomplished dancers and singers hail from various parts of the United States and Canada, bringing a deep sense of cultural pride and excellence to everything they do.

Community favorites including local mariachi’s, folklòrico performances, live painters, craft activities, delicious food, art vendors, and interactive art experiences are all set to return for festival-goers to enjoy. Visit culturalcoalition.com/events/mikiztli-dia-de-los-muertos-festival for more information and schedule of performance updates.
The festival is made possible with support from M3F Fund, Raza Development Fund, Cox Charities, SRP, Creative West, National Endowment of the Arts, Phoenix Department of Arts and Culture, and Arizona Commission on the Arts.

FESTIVAL DETAILS:
WHEN: Sunday, October 27, 2024 from 2 to 7 p.m.
WHERE: Steele Indian School Park - 300 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85012
COST: Free

ABOUT CULTURAL COALITION, INC
Cultural Coalition, Inc. is a local non-profit who has committed to supporting indigenous artists and encouraging youth arts education for over 25 years. We are dedicated to the education, promotion, and development of indigenous artists throughout Arizona. We provide our community with much needed artistic programs that highlight and amplify the cultural diversity of the Valley of the Sun.

ABOUT MIKITZLI
In 2018, Cultural Coalition, Inc. changed the name of their annual Dia de los Muertos Festival to “Mikitztli” because of the blatant commercialization and cultural appropriation of El Dia de Los Muertos theme and its related imagery.
In order to better communicate and share this ancient indigenous cosmo-vision, they decolonized the name of their festival to Mikiztli – pronounced [meeh-keesh-tleeh] – which means “transition” and is symbolized as the “calaca” or “the smiling skull”.
In the Nahuatl language, the name given to this celebration is Mihcailhuitl [meeh-kah-ell-ooueeh-tl] and translated means “the feast of the spirits.”

ABOUT INDIGENOUS ENTERPRISE
Indigenous Enterprise is a Native American collective founded in 2015 and based in Phoenix, Arizona. The company was established with the goal of sharing the positive aspects of indigenous culture through film, fashion, and dance.
Since their founding, Indigenous Enterprise has become one of the most dynamic and exciting cultural companies in the world. Their performances have captivated audiences at some of the most iconic venues and events, including the Super Bowl, Sydney Opera House, Joyce Theater, and the 2020 Presidential Inauguration. They have received critical acclaim from publications such as the New York Times and Vogue Magazine for their captivating performances and stunning visual artistry.
In addition to their dance performances, Indigenous Enterprise has also made a name for itself in the fashion world, with a successful clothing line that showcases the beauty and richness of Native American culture.

Indigenous Enterprise is also a film production company, creating stunning visual storytelling for clients such as the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Phoenix Suns. Their creative vision has been showcased in music videos, commercials, and promotional content.

Through their work, Indigenous Enterprise is dedicated to preserving and promoting indigenous culture in a positive and inspiring way.