Victor Villaseñor Invites All to Copper Canyon

Renowned author Victor Villaseñor, in conjunction with The Milburn Foundation, will put on the Rain of Gold Exploration Seminar entitled "Tools of Genius" from September 5–14, 2009 at La Barranca del Cobre, or Copper Canyon. In Rain of Gold (Arte Público Press, 1991), Villaseñor writes about this location and the deep ancestral roots he has there.

Victor Villaseñor will take you from five senses to your natural thirteen senses on this magical journey.

Explore your brilliance, beauty, harmony, and peace in the mountains above Copper Canyon and with a trip on the famous Chihuahua al Pacifico railroad with its many trestles, tunnels and awe-inspiring views of Barranca del Cobre.

Experience the ancient culture of the Raramuri (most commonly known as Tarahumara Indians), a people who have lived in harmony with their Copper Canyon homeland for many centuries and whose indigenous wisdom has much to teach our modern world.

Breathe Clean Mountain Air at 7500 feet above sea level.

Roll Back Time at a charming, rustic lodge with lamplight and wood-burning stoves in the mountains near Creel, Mexico.

Participate In Victor’s Tools of Genius seminar each morning, and in the afternoons walk to a magnificent waterfall, visit an old mission church and the intriguing Cusarare museum, see Raramuri (Tarahumara) families in their cave dwellings and log homes, or just relax and contemplate the wonders of the day. Enjoy delicious Mexican meals and music in the evenings.

Renew your Spirit while learning and living your Tools of Genius!

The dealine for registration is July 15. Upfront cost is $3,000.

More information about the logistics of the trip can be found on Villaseñor's Web site.

VICTOR VILLASEÑOR is a writer whose works have brought Mexican-American culture and literature to a wide audience. He is the author of the highly acclaimed best-sellers, Burro Genius (Rayo, 2004); Rain of Gold (Arte Público Press, 1991), which details the saga of his family’s immigration to the U.S. from Mexico; and Thirteen Senses: A Memoir (Rayo, 2002). His other non-fiction works include Wild Steps of Heaven (Delta Books, 1995), Jury: The People vs. Juan Corona (Little Brown and Company, 1976), and the screenplay for the award-winning film The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez. Villaseñor lives in Oceanside, California, where he continues to write.

Regarding Health Alerts for Mexico: The Milburn Foundation anticipates that the swine flu epidemic in Mexico will be over by the time of this program. If the U.S. government is still discouraging travel to Mexico due to flu concerns in early August, the program will be canceled and refunds of all deposits and other monies will be paid.

About Tourist Safety in Mexico: Drug-cartel violence in Mexico, especially along the U.S. border, is real and regrettable. However, the Milburn Foundation believes there is little danger to tourists. To read a statement from Jan Milburn, who has 40 years experience working with officials at every level in Mexico and has ongoing firsthand knowledge of the situation there, please go to www.victorvillasenor.com.