Mandy Curo comes from the Creek Nation of Moskogee, The Yaki people, and The Kumeyaay. Enrolled as a member of the Barona Band of Mission Indians, she was raised on the “Rez”. In her 44 years she’s come to see the power in resilience by living our traditions in a modern world. “As a Kumeyaay, we practice thinking more as a people and less as an individual. I’m honored to be a part of this practice. I have much to learn from my elders and at the same time I have something to offer the generations that follow me.”
As a tribal member of the Barona Band of Mission Indians Mandy uses her voice both figuratively and literally to promote awareness of the first people of the San Diego and northern Mexico regions. Thanks to her father who is a fluent Kumeyaay speaker, she was born speaking both Kumeyaay and English not knowing when to use what language. Language atrophy took over when she headed into the local town for kindergarten. Her local clan is the “Kur” clan meaning the cousin of the burrowing owl, which is how she got her last name Curo. The Curo clan has been known through generations to be musical and use their talents as performers to assist their people. They sing often for funerals as well as celebrations. As a result, songwriting, singing and even a little guitar playing is in her blood.
Mandy spent her youth growing up on the reservation and left for higher education at 17 years old. It was quite the culture shock on top of having the usual stress of being an underaged college student. Home was always in the forefront of her mind. After graduating form the art institute of Colorado with a degree in art; emphasis in photagraphy, she moved around a bit, including a couple years in the foothills of the Andes in Venezuela. When she became a mom, however, she knew it was time to go home. She been raising her two daughters for 18 beautiful years along side her parents who do more than is expected of them. They dance, they sign, and they photograph when appropriate as well as trying very hard to create within themselves as well as within the community new speakers of the northern dialect. They do it together. They do it as a family, which they are to pass the messages along that matter to them as First Nation citizens.
Mandy has multiple responsibilities through her tribe. After graduating with a degree in art, and coming from a family of musicians, Mandy performs different jobs for her tribal government like sitting on numerous boards and committees volunteering her time and talent as a photographer and a musician, all the while being a single mom. She’s spent the last 8 years as an employee at the Barona Museum & Cultural Center giving tours, conducting outreaches, and assisting with the language department. Mandy adores her much endangered language and is determined to become fluent in the Northern iipay dialect. It’s a challenging task but she mentors under her fluent father and already has 14 years of studying Kumeyaay under her belt. She is proud to be known as a translator for Barona’s Language Preservation Committee.
In her free time, Mandy enjoys working with her horse Kwahana, writing and performing original songs, and visiting National Parks. She is an avid coffee drinker and loves her dogs almost as much as her two kids, Carmen and Daniela.
Ultimately she hopes to do her part honoring the Creator even if in small ways. That includes taking care of the language , the land, and all the two leggeds and four leggeds that cross her path.
