BIO
I was born in Denver in 1953 to Theresa and Max Sigala and grew up at 7th and Water Street, now home to Ocean Journey, across from the Auraria Campus. My family name, Sigala, is on the Auraria Campus list of Displaced Aurarians. My parents are from Mexican and Native American ethnicities. I have two sisters, Gloria Sigala and Anita Martinez, and two brothers, Max Sigala and Charlie Borrego. I have two sons that I am proud of, Davi Maximiliano Sigala and Jevon Santiago Francisco Vargas, and five grandchildren: Aysia Marie Flowering Robe Sigala, Davi Peaceful Hawk Sigala, Rhian Jae She Who Stands by The Moon Morning Star Vargas, Tegan Xochitl (Nahuatl-Flower) Walks With Light Vargas, and Onnie Kimimila (Lakota Butterfly) Light of the Full Moon Vargas, and am blessed to have two great-grandsons: Cruz Jerimiah Stands With Rain Gonzalez and Sonni Giovanni Jr. Peaceful Bear Ambrosio. My Grandkisses are the most important elements weaved into my purple Lakota Star Quilt of my life.
I am Strong Life Ways Woman, a Curandera, a social justice education activist, who has walked the Red Road for over 40 years. I am grateful for my relatives on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations in South Dakota, and Lakota Sundance Chiefs Johnny Gibbons and Robert Cross, who have helped me. I have master’s degrees in Justice and Peace Studies (Iliff School of Theology) and Social Work (University of Denver) and am finishing a Doctor of Education (Ed.D) in Leadership for Educational Equity at CU Denver. I have taught at CU Denver, Community College of Denver, and for over 17 years at MSU Denver as Affiliate Faculty in the Department of Chicana/o Studies.