APRIL NEWSLETTER

Dear Latin Americanist Community,

I start this newsletter with sad news. Professor Emeritus of History James Wilkie

passed away on March 20 at the age of 90. Professor Wilkie was a distinguished Mexicanist, who specialized in 20th century Mexican political and economic history. He was the director of the UCLA Program on Mexico, which preceded the Center for Mexican Studies, established in 2009. I quote Professor Kevin Terraciano’s words: “Professor Wilkie contributed to establishing the reputation of our Latin American History field as one of the best in the nation, and UCLA as a center for Mexican Studies.” Rest in Peace, Professor James Wilkie.

We are starting a very busy spring quarter with many events taking place this

month. We have talks on Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Paraguay and conferences and festivals covering the entire Latin American region. For full details, please visit the calendar of the Latin American Institute at https://www.international.ucla.edu/LAI/events. Here are a few highlights:

Our esteemed colleague in History, Professor Lauren Derby has a new book:

Bêtes Noires: Sorcery as History in the Haitian-Dominican Borderlands. And the LAI is happy to co-sponsor the book launch on April 10. Congratulations, Lauren! We continue with our series on Paraguay and Bolivia with two events: one on Korean migration to Paraguay (April 13) and another on the ‘Brazilianization’ of Paraguay during the Stroessner dictatorship (April 15). The Center for Mexican Studies is presenting talks on economic policy, wages and household income in Mexico in the context of the trade negotiations with the United States (April 8) and on race and political conflict in the late colonial and early post-Independence period (April 22). We are pleased to support our colleagues in the Spanish and Portuguese Department who will welcome Chilean writer, Lina Meruane (April 17). Dr. Meruane will present “A corazón abierto: notas para una escritura quirúrgica.” The LAI is also pleased to co-sponsor the Simposio anual de lenguas indígenas de América Latina: pedagogía y práctica (April 24). This event will take place in a webinar format and will be headlined by our own Kevin Terraciano, Chair of History and expert on colonial Mexico.

I close this message inviting you to give to the mission of the UCLA Latin

American Institute and its centers, programs, and working groups. Your generous contributions support the lively intellectual life of the institute, student research, and our vibrant outreach activities. 

Rubén Hernández-León,

Director of the UCLA Latin American Institute 

COURTESY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Co-Presented with the American Indian Studies center and hosted by the

Hammer Museum

Water for Life

- Film Screening -

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Box Office Opens 6:30 PM

Film Screening Begins at 7:30 PM

Water For Life tells the story of three extraordinary individuals: Berta Cáceres, a Lenca Indigenous leader in Honduras; Francisco Piñeda, a subsistence farmer in El Salvador; and Alberto Curamil, an Indigenous Mapuche Chief in Chile, all of whom refused to let government-supported industry and transnational corporations take their water and redirect it to mining, hydroelectric, or large scale industrial agriculture projects.

The screening will be followed by a conversation with Teri Red Owl, Executive Director of the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission, and the struggle of the local Paiute Tribes of Payahuunadü (the Owens Valley) to protect and reclaim water resources diverted to Los Angeles.

Ticketing

Admission is free. Your seat will be assigned to you when you pick up your ticket at the box office. Seats are assigned on a first come, first served basis, limit one per visitor. Box office opens one hour before the event.

Migration across the Americas I

Governance of Borders, Mobilities and People

Thursday, April 16, 2026

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM PT

Haines Hall, Rm 279

Event presented by the Center for the Study of International Migration. Co-sponsored by the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies (JEMS), this conference will host emergent and early career scholars who will present their original research addressing contemporary issues of international migration throughout the American subcontinent. Ranging from examining migration governance in Peru and Chile to family reunification for refugees in Brazil to mobility regimes in Nicaragua and Honduras, this conference will be timely and enlightening for all attendees. 

Listening for Central America Conference

Friday, April 17, 2026 

9:30am to 5pm PT 

INTS 1113 Symposium Room

The importance of Latin America and of understanding the region has never been greater. We encourage you to participate in our events and support our efforts to educate students and the public about Latin America.

10343 Bunche Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1447

(310) 825-4571