Fall News: Keeping the Circle-- A Tribute to Maestro Jose Montoya

--> It is with both excitement and mourning that this news is written.  The excitement is drawn from the incredible response NCN is receiving throughout the country.  Communities have increased their understanding of the Latino community and are responding by offering support that builds on gifts that our mothers, fathers, and families possess.  La Cultura Cura (Transformational Healing) provides communities with the foundation to help families address long held pain so that the beauty of our families can surface.

NCN staff have been busy traveling across the country representing NCN at conferences and convenings.  Mario Ozuna-Sanchez & Ozvaldo “Ozzie” Cruz traveled to Boston and Baltimore to inform practitioners who seek to include young men in prevention and intervention efforts. Maestro Jerry Tello and Juan Gomez informed foundations and systems leaders on the benefits of using asset-based culturally responsive approaches will enhance the outcomes they seek to achieve in communities in Colorado.  Maestro Samuelin Martinez and Baba Arnold Perkins (Brotherhood of Elders) attended the statewide Boys & Men of Color Camp held in the California Sierras to reflect our shared mission to make sure our boys and young men see themselves as blessings to all of us and remind them that we will walk with them in their journey towards manhood.  Finally, I  traveled to Washington DC to attended the national convening hosted by the National Institute of Health to better understand the involvement of fathers during pregnancy and first year of their child’s life and continue to serve on the Positive Youth Justice Initiative that will illuminate the many ways that California’s systems and resources can be deployed to achieve better life outcomes than the investments in incarceration have given the constituents of the state.

Maestro José E. Montoya was man who reminded me that the greetings and social graces that my family taught, that were rooted in our Mexican traditions, had a place in this country, our country, too. His contribution to NCN as a board member was central to making sure that the organization worked in service to the community.  His unrelenting advocacy for young men, adult men and families that were pushed to the margins of society has been a driving force of our work.  His presence in the Círculo helped center work that each man must endeavor to do so that his children, family, and community benefit.

Mstro. José Montoya’s teachings are overwhelming to capture in this short note.  He reflected what a man that worked in service to others looked like, his time with El Círculo often came at the expense of his family, and he taught us to sit humbly so that we could learn from each other while honoring the four cardinal directions representing the children, women, elders and ancestors, and men all living on .  His music, art, and prose, were modern day examples of Chicano Flor y Canto.  He created the NCN’s  noble challenge to push the movement forward for the benefit of others.  The efforts of our success are built on the foundation Maestro José Montoya helped create and build.

Buenos días le de Dios y Dios se lo pague.

(May God grant you good days & May God repay you)

Con respeto siempre y gratitud,

Héctor Sánchez-Flores

Executive Director,

National Compadres Network

San Benito High, Hollister Youth Alliance: Indian Canyon Retreat

Joven Noble Retreat to Indian Canyon

Saturday May 25, 2013

Purpose of Retreat

In many Native American cultures, the youth participated in a Vision Quest/Retreat to symbolize their rite-of-passage ceremony. Traditionally, these rituals have been performed to mark significant life transitions or changes. Generally speaking, they are seen as both personal and collective events that are guided and witnessed with the community, and often involve the “quester” spending time alone in nature in search of a personal vision that becomes a vision to support the entire community. The youth participating in the Joven Noble program will participate in the retreat to symbolize the completion of their participation in the program and to reflect on how the lessons that they have learned throughout the year will help improve themselves and their community.

About Indian Canyon

Indian Canyon is the only land continuously held by the

Ohlone people, the first inhabitants of the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Areas. Indian Canyon is the only federally recognized “Indian Country” along coastal Northern California From Santa Barbara to Sonoma. 
In order to provide a place for Indigenous people who need land for ceremony, Indian Canyon hosts over five sweat lodges, beautiful arbor area for gatherings, and offers a round house area (site for our future traditional Village House) for special events. In addition to offering 30-40 areas for individual prayer and ceremony. Indian Canyon provides research and exchange opportunities for students and interns from throughout Northern California. 


All kinds of wildlife, flora and fauna, can be found in Indian

Canyon, including Coastal Live Oak, Madrone, Buckeyes, Sycamore, Pine and Cottonwood, Deer, Red-tail hawks, Stellar Jays, Owls, Hummingbirds, Foxes and Coyotes, along with the occasional visiting Condors (during ceremony visiting from Pinnacles Park who are reintroducing Condors to the area). Located south of Hollister, this private remote Canyon may be visited by invitation.  

Thanks to the Hollister Youth Alliance at San Benito High School for providing this inspirational experience to ten youth ages 12-17 years of age.


Mario Ozuna-Sanchez
Senior Program & Training Specialist
National Compadres Network/ National Latino Father and Family Institute