James Vega

James (Tlakatletzin) Vega (fire keeper) is a child of immigrant parents from Chichimeka and Otomi nations (Guanajuato and Mexiko). He is a native of Ventura, grew up in the original Maravilla Projects, heart of deadly gangs in East Los Angeles, and in Whittier with a Spanish speaking family of 11. He helped to obtain justice with more bilingual: educational programs, teachers, tutors, administrators, and Chican@s Studies. Jaime helped lead the East L.A. Walkouts and later became a first-generation high school, college, and university graduate. Mr. Vega went on to achieve a Vocational Lifetime Teaching Credential from UCLA as a Barber Instructor, B.A.-Liberal Arts (Psychology, History, Sociology) from UCSB, and an M.S. in Educational Psychology and Counseling Credential from CSUN. Jaime survived becoming a negative statistic while growing up around gangs as bullets sometimes whizzed by. He wants to serve as a positive role model for everyone, especially with 1^st generation students in: K-12 schools, college, and universies.

Maestro Jaime has worked throughout Ventura County: Bilingual Group-Counseling Specialist, UCSB admissions-outreach, Moorpark-Oxnard-Ventura Colleges, Fillmore-Santa Paula High Schools, and Santa Paula K-8th Schools. After 20 years of counseling; he retired and continues to work as a Faculty Resource Instructor with the Ventura College Tutoring Program. Since 1994, he became a Mexika Danzante. He has volunteered at the Camarillo Youth Authority as a fire keeper during indigenous purification ceremonies and as a youth soccer coach. 

Tlakatletzin has spent over four decades learning his indigenous language of Nahuatl and learning how to live in harmony in accordance with the indigenous Mexika Sunstone (known as the “Aztec Calendar”). He has traveled many times throughout the ancient valley of Anhuatl-Mexiko-Tenochtitlan and surrounding historical-ceremonial sites. His indigenous instructors-authors taught him how to read and interpret:  the Mexika Sunstone, ancient manuscripts, codices, and pictographs from Pre-Kuauhtemok times. His research and teachings incorporate verbal-oral history and philosophy. Maestro Jaime was commissioned by his instructors to share these ancient cultural teachings. Information  from the "Aztec Calendar" will help you find your cosmic identity; known as your Tonali. You will learn how to live each day with more meaning. Tlakatletzin will help you learn the basics of how to use the indigenous Mexika Sunstone. Jaime has been a presenter for many years during  the annual Diversity in Culture event. Continue your Academic Journey by finding out about your birthdate identity, characteristics, talents, and career by using the "Aztec Calendar" as a tool to reach your full potential.