Imagine a flourishing Tijuana River Valley: This Kumeyaay play brings that vision to life
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)-- The pollution from the Tijuana River Valley and Estuary has troubled not only residents of San Diego County, but also those who have deep, native roots in the northern Baja region.
While this longstanding issue has plagued both sides of the border, a unique and inspiring Kumeyaay play premiering in San Diego on Saturday allows audiences to envision a revitalized and flourishing river valley that has healed from decades of devastation.
Shuuluk Wechuwvi - Where Lightning Was Born: Guided by Nature - Built by Knowledge & Tradition for Future Generations, is a collaborative play and comic book created by the award-winning sister duo, Mabelle and Zulema Reynoso, and directed by Tori Rice.
The illuminating production premieres Saturday at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the Spark Studio Soundstage in Kearny Mesa.
The Eyaay Ahuun Foundation will present the production alongside local Kumeyaay cultural practitioners, and is sponsored by Casa Familiar and the Prebys Foundation. The project is also part of the Kumeyaay Native Arts Pathway Program (KNAPP).
According to the Eyaay Ahuun Foundation, "Shuuluk Wechuwvi is a love letter to the land and its people, a call to action, a reclamation of narrative, and a step towards environmental stewardship and a cultural community-rooted future."
The production aims to confront the devastation caused by the pollution and sewage crisis through a story of illuminating pathways focused on healing and repairing the land, while envisioning a collective resolution.
According to the Times of San Diego, the play is about a disillusioned teen gamer named Lucky and his journey of self-discovery, which is guided by his Native veteran uncle as well as companions, Water and Daisy.
Through his journey, Lucky embraces his Kumeyaay heritage and native name, Shuuluk, which translates to Lightning. He also vows to protect the land and the stories passed down from his people's generations.
The Reynoso sisters' company, Teatro Las Hermanas, presents stories about borderlands, while also serving as a platform for advocacy and cultural celebration.
“As daughters of the borderlands, we believe storytelling is one of our most powerful
inheritances,” Zulema and Mabelle wrote in a press release. “Through this project, we honor the Tijuana River Estuary—not just as a place, but as a living archive of resilience, culture, and community.”
The Saturday productions are free to attend, but space is limited and reservations are required to attend the showings.
Each showing will be followed by a panel discussion featuring local experts, Kumeyaay cultural practitioners and Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve researchers.
