A Conversation with Marilyn Gomez About Dia de los Muertos

Starting on November 1, the Missoula alley behind Headwaters Foundation and Confluence Center will host a traditional Hispanic ofrenda, or altar, for Día de los Muertos – Day of the Dead. A lot of thoughtful work goes into transforming the alley into a sacred space of warmth and celebration. We sat down with one of the organizers, Marilyn Gomez, to chat about her work in Missoula and what this event is about.

You’re involved in so many Missoula organizations. What has your path looked like to becoming involved in this event?

I relocated to Missoula seven years ago, moving from a place where I was the majority, to a place where I became the minority. At the time I had two little kids and it was just a huge culture shock for me. I experienced things that I never imagined I would experience but, at the same time, some great things too. I didn’t feel like there was a place here for me. But I told myself, “No, if you’re going to make this move, you’ve got to try it out for two years.” Then I started saying, “Well, my community’s not here, so it is up to me to make the change, to make the community.”

So early on I began working with various organizations. I am part of the Missoula Food Bank and Community Center Board, and part of their Anti-Racism Task Force. I have collaborated with EmpowerMT, and I joined the Parent Leadership Training Institute with United Way. The work I was doing at the time allowed me to create platforms where I can share my culture – education, cultural awareness. I crossed paths through my work with, at the time, the CFO of Headwaters, Mynor Alejandro. He believed in me, and he gave me a platform to create a space where everybody feels supported, welcomed, and embraced and valued for what they have to offer. 

What will visitors experience at the upcoming ofrenda?

So we have our Catrinas. The Catrina is the nice skeleton woman dressed in a big, fancy, glamorous dress. She represents that you can have all the riches in the earth, but at the end, we all become skeletons. We come into this world equally, and you may be of a higher social status, economic status, education. But at the end, we all become dust, we all get buried in the same dirt or cremated.

We believe that our ancestors continue on in another journey. Their time on Earth is done, but they’re spiritual beings. We believe that sometimes they come back to be our guides, and we all have our own alebrijes – colorful, fantastical spirit animals. These vibrant creatures, often taking the form of birds, dogs, cats, or bears, walk beside us, protect us, and guide us through our next journey. 

We have the flores de cempasúchil, which is the marigold flowers. The bright colors, the aromas, they bring us back. They say that when we travel, it’s a long journey. So in the altar we have all the elements that you would find in the earth, to balance out. As we journey, we’re thirsty, so there’s always a glass of water for us to drink. There’s salt. There’s the element of the candles – the fire, the light – to guide us back to our loved ones who are waiting for us. We have our traditional favorite dishes. 

Let’s say if it was me, and my kids know mom’s favorite dish is mole and pozole. So, they’ll go and prepare a big feast of mole and pozole. They’ll go and have dinner at the altar. The altars are usually set up in the cemetery for every family, and they take the food, they have a huge picnic right there in the cemetery. Cemeteries are sacred spaces and spaces that we don’t fear. We call it el Campo Santo, which is “the Holy Field.” Because you’re at peace there. 

You have mariachi bands, you have tamborazo and different kinds of folk music. And people are just there having a good time, reminiscing, telling their stories, eating together. Culture is food and food is culture. That’s what I believe. It just brings people together.  

What does it mean to you to have an ofrenda in Missoula?

To me it’s providing a Día de los Muertos traditional ofrenda that not only displays culture, but also provides education, explains why it is that we do it, the significance to us. And it clarifies that it’s not a festival, it’s not a carnival, it’s not just an altar, it’s not just art. It’s a sacred day. It’s a day where family comes together. It’s also a way to talk about death because I think that’s just such a taboo subject that nobody talks about it.

My heritage comes from Oaxaca, Mexico. And as Mexicans, we celebrate from a very young age. Everybody’s involved in setting this up. We talk about death because it’s a cycle that every living thing goes through – a plant, an animal, a bird, humans – we’re all going to process it, so early on, we know not to fear death. We understand that there is a cycle that we must all go through. 

I never met some of my great grandparents, but through this sacred tradition I am able get to know their personalities, their humor, their love, and the shared stories help us carry their legacy and accomplishments forward. As the family sets up the ofrendra, we share stories, laughter, memories, and each year, somebody has a different story or something else to add to prior stories. Through the stories, it’s like you get to know your past relatives. You never met them, but you know them and you develop a bond with them. 

We want to make it where other people can feel that way, too – adopt that, and not fear death, not make it such a taboo subject. Make it a celebration of life and honor their people. we want to explain that because some people sometimes misinterpret it. It’s our way to carry our ancestors forward. To learn from them and carry their traditions, honor their accomplishments, all their sacrifice that they did for us to get here, and carry them forward with us.

——

You’re invited to join us around warm candle light, lively music and the aroma of authentic Latin food. The public is welcome to contribute to the altar during a soft opening, Saturday November 1st from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. The main event is Sunday, November 2nd from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m.

In addition to a wide array of foods including birria tacos, Colombian arepas, and several dessert vendors, there will be drinks available from the Rhino, music, and the Missoula Public Library’s Bookmobile stocked with Hispanic and Latin books. Plus, you can warm up in the Headwaters building, where there will be free face painting, kids activities and a screening of the movie “Coco.”

We hope to see you there!

Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.