Interview with Olga Burrero on Midwifery and Curanderísmo
Written by Josselin Chun Cojom
Olga Burrero Guanche, former Garden’s Edge scholarship recipient, is now working as a health promoter at Qachuu Aloom’s Nutrition Program. She is also a midwife, a Mayan spiritual guide, and a curandera (traditional healer). At Qachuu Aloom, she works with families from twelve villages within the municipality of Rabinal, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala.
“The things I really like and I’m passionate about are: measuring the children’s height and weight, helping people heal through ceremonies, and receiving newborns during a birth.”
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Curanderísmo Class at UNM
In the Summer of 2017, Olga was invited by Dr. Lucero, Dr. Starr, and the Garden’s Edge to participate in a cultural exchange and a Curanderismo Class at The University of New Mexico. Olga attended the course for a second year during the summer of 2018. Because of this experience, “I started to see my traditional ways very differently. In my own culture, people are not educated about what curanderismo really is, so there is a lot of criticism towards it, but now I have come to realize that this is what my ancestors did before modern medicine was introduced”.
During Olga’s trip, she met other people with whom she exchanged nutritious recipes. This was very helpful for her because as a health promoter she teaches mothers how to prepare healthy meals for their children.
“When I came to the United States, I learned how the Pueblo Tribes practice their ancestral knowledge, and how they keep passing it on. I started to think about the things that are disappearing in my own culture and community. We are forgetting many things, and we do not value them anymore.”
Cultural Exchange with Traditional Healers
At Red Root Acupuncture and Herbs with Dr. Lucero and Dr. Starr, Olga learned how to do fire cupping and how to make tinctures. This is important because there are many medicinal plants in Guatemala but people often don’t know how to use them. This class really enhanced Olga’s knowledge of plant medicine.
While taking the class, Olga began thinking about how she could pass down her knowledge in her community. She decided that she was going to practice what she learned in the class, and during her time in New Mexico.
“For me personally, It was amazing to see the curanderismo teachers helping people heal emotionally, and they even helped me improve my self esteem. I met people who listened to me and appreciated my traditional knowledge. I’m going to share my knowledge with my coworkers, and my community to preserve natural medicine. Now I identify myself with my plants, and my culture.
