Felicia is a founding and coordinating member of In Lak Ech, a Xicana spoken word, poetry, song and drumming collective founded in 1997.
In Lak Ech is a Meso-American concept meaning “you are my other me” tu eres mi otro yo. In the flesh, In Lak Ech is a performance poetry collective composed of Liza Cohen Hita, Marisol L. Torres, Felicia Montes, Claudia A. Mercado, Cristina Gorocica Gallegos, Rachel Thorson Veliz and Marlene Beltran, all Xicana multi-media artists, writers, mothers, teachers, and organizers uniting to tell Her-story through poetry and song: in xochitl, in cuicatl. Their words & songs are used to bring awareness and empowerment to the issues of women, family, humanity, and mother earth. Based in Los Angeles, California, the women of In Lak Ech not only perform poetry and song but also organize cultural celebrations, participate in conferences, and conduct workshops for diverse communities. These performances are used as tools for expression, healing, communication, and organizing at various community centers, festivals, high schools, universities, and indigenous ceremonies.
Since ‘97 the women of In Lak Ech have been performing spoken word, singing songs, and telling herstory from the concrete jungle of Los Angeles to the jungles of Chiapas. Their latest CD “Mujeres Con Palabra” (Women of & with Word) is the product and documentation of those 10 years. It is available at http://www.urbanxic.com
In Lak Ech is available for performances at colleges, conferences, classrooms, and community festivals.
Xicana Poetry & Song Presentations (partial list)
University of Boulder, Colorado Boulder, CO 3/2010
“Comrades y Comadres” at The Front San Diego, CA 3/2010
Day of the Dead at CSUN Northridge, CA 11/2009
Espino Youth Conference Stockton, CA 10/2009
Hemispheric Institute “Transnocheo” Bogota, Colombia 8/2009
UC Irvine, Keynote Closing Event/Performance Irvine, CA 5/2009
Tucson High School Unity Festival Tucson, AZ 4/2009
Lady Fest Inglewood, CA 1/2009
CAL ARTS, Art & Activism Performance Valencia, CA 12/2008
MEChA Statewide Conference 2008 Van Nuys, CA 10/2008
University of San Diego San Diego, CA 10/2008
Unity Festival Tucson, AZ 4/2008
University of Arizona, Tucson Tucson, AZ 4/2008
University of CA, Riverside Riverside, CA 3/2008
Day of the Dead at Self Help Graphics LA, CA 2003, 2006, 2007
Day of the Dead at Cal State Northridge Northridge, CA 2002, 2007, 2008
“Mujeres Con Palabra/In Lak Ech CD Release Oakland, CA 10/2007
“Mujeres Con Palabra/In Lak Ech CD Release LA, CA 9/2007
Native American Unity Concert @ UC Davis Davis, CA 2006
Reel Rasquache Film Festival @ CSULA Los Angeles, CA 2005
Pitzer College Claremont, CA 2004
Eco Maya Festival @ Barnsdall Park Los Angeles, CA 2004
Semana de la Xicana @ Univ, of Colorado Boulder, CO 2002
Raza Womyn’s Confernce at UCLA Los Angeles, CA 2001
MALCS Conference @ Cal State Northridge Northridge, CA 2001
Chican@/Indigenous Encounter/Festival Chiapas, Mexico 1997
Mujeres de Maiz Live Art Show Los Angeles, CA 1997-2010 (annually)
In Lak Ech is available for performances at colleges, conferences, classrooms,
and community festivals.
CONTACT: mujrmyz@yahoo.com
Felicia 'Fe' Montes 