Our Story
Long before we arrived at Casa Salcido, the Abuelas vibrated the roots of their children with whispers—soft and insistent, connecting us to them and to each other. Their murmurs traveled through time and across the earth, conspiring to bring us together in May 2023 for the Chingona Retreat under the sunlit skies of Rosarito, Baja California.
At Casa Salcido, eight women answered their call. Each carried stories of resilience passed down through generations, stories shaped by survival and strength. Together, we gathered—not by coincidence, but by design. The Abuelas reminded us that the roots of our Chingonisma were never severed, only waiting to awaken.
And so, we came—not to create something new, but to animate what had always been within us. Through shared stories, sacred rituals, and the nourishment of the land, we felt the pulse of our ancestors rise, bringing Chingonisma into full bloom.
For four days, we moved together through the sacred rhythm of the Nahui Ollin framework, experiencing phases of self-reflection, ancestral learning, courageous action, and transformation. We didn’t just talk about Chingonisma; we lived it, embodied it, and let it guide us toward a deeper sense of belonging.
Though all six women shared profound connections, a deeper bond emerged among Leticia, Mea, Shabeta, and Serina. They carried a shared vision to extend this awakening beyond Casa Salcido, to create something larger—a space for others to heal, reconnect, and reclaim. Though not yet named, the seeds of the ReSisters were already being planted.
ReSisters
The journey didn’t end at Casa Salcido. The women carried the energy of the retreat into new spaces, attending conferences and gatherings that inspired them to dream bigger. Their path led them to the star-filled skies of Oaxaca, where they met Dr. Carrie Sampson, Mea’s sister, whose presence brought new light and energy to their growing sisterhood.
Under the expansive Oaxacan night, surrounded by the whispers of ancestors and the weight of the stars, they became the ReSisters. They made a sisterhood pact, envisioning the Chingona Gathering—a space not confined to Chicana identity but open to all Latina/x, Afro-Indigenous, and Indigenous Peoples of mixed heritage.
It was through their dear friend Darshan that Serina met Susan. Recognizing their shared commitment to empowering women, Darshan knew they would find connection through their work and values. Serina and Susan quickly bonded over their mutual friend and the passion they both carried for creating spaces of healing and empowerment. Susan and Serina honor Darshan's memory through their work.
With Susan completing the circle, the ReSisters committed to building an Elsewhere—a sanctuary that could hold the complexity of identities and the brilliance of ancestral memory.
Meet The ReSisters
Mama Shabeta {she/ella} - Curandera
Serina Payan Hazelwood {she/ella} - Researcher
Serina Payan Hazelwood {she/ella} - Researcher
Shabeta, an Indigenous-Chicana, Curandera and herbalist bon in New Mexico. She is dedicated to reconnecting communities with ancestral healing through plant medicine. Introduced to medicinal plants as a child in the mountains of Taos, New Mexico, she has spent decades exploring the intersection of health, food, and nature.
As the Director
Shabeta, an Indigenous-Chicana, Curandera and herbalist bon in New Mexico. She is dedicated to reconnecting communities with ancestral healing through plant medicine. Introduced to medicinal plants as a child in the mountains of Taos, New Mexico, she has spent decades exploring the intersection of health, food, and nature.
As the Director of Shabeta's Healing Garden, she leads private and public medicinal plant walks and apprenticeships, helping individuals gain confidence in the intuitive use of plants. Since 2009, Shabeta has been a teacher at the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics, the only nationally recognized massage school offering herbal programs. Her work includes teaching Asheninka healing techniques from the Peruvian jungle alongside her partner, Asheninka Mino, and running an outdoor garden school to demonstrate plant life from seed to fruit.
Shabeta’s work is grounded in honoring Indigenous traditions and empowering others to embrace self-healing through plant wisdom and ancestral knowledge.
Serina Payan Hazelwood {she/ella} - Researcher
Serina Payan Hazelwood {she/ella} - Researcher
Serina Payan Hazelwood {she/ella} - Researcher
Serina is a Queer, Indigenous-Chicana, and European-settler descendant dedicated to cultural advocacy and transformative research. She is currently pursuing her PhD at Prescott College, where her research, Reanimating Chingonisma: Creating Indigenous Elsewheres Through Liberatory Praxis, explores how intentionally created spaces can foste
Serina is a Queer, Indigenous-Chicana, and European-settler descendant dedicated to cultural advocacy and transformative research. She is currently pursuing her PhD at Prescott College, where her research, Reanimating Chingonisma: Creating Indigenous Elsewheres Through Liberatory Praxis, explores how intentionally created spaces can foster healing, empowerment, and cultural renewal.
Serina is one of the visionaries behind the Chingona Gathering, a transformative event celebrating Chicana/x, Latina/x, and Indigenous identities. Influenced by her personal experiences and the resilience of her ancestors, she collaborates with the ReSisters, a collective of women committed to the animation Chingonisma!
Through her research and the Chingona Gathering, Serina works to reconnect individuals with ancestral wisdom, inspire healing, and empower communities to resist systems of colonial erasure. Her mission is to reclaim identity, honor resilience, and create a collective future deeply rooted in the knowledge and traditions of her ancestors.
Susan Sanelli Hammack
Serina Payan Hazelwood {she/ella} - Researcher
Susan Sanelli Hammack
Susan is a Trauma Recovery Coach, expressive arts facilitator, and visual artist dedicated to creating spaces where all women—cis, trans, and nonbinary—can connect with their sacred worth and claim their sovereignty. A first-generation daughter of Costa Rican and Italian immigrants, Susan was raised on Ohlone territory (now known as the S
Susan is a Trauma Recovery Coach, expressive arts facilitator, and visual artist dedicated to creating spaces where all women—cis, trans, and nonbinary—can connect with their sacred worth and claim their sovereignty. A first-generation daughter of Costa Rican and Italian immigrants, Susan was raised on Ohlone territory (now known as the San Francisco Bay Area) in a close-knit, multi-generational family, fostering her respect for ancestral wisdom and commitment to collective healing.
With over 20 years of experience in education, spiritual program development, and trauma recovery, Susan integrates lived experience and professional training. Her work combines ancestral traditions with contemporary practices such as CBT, expressive arts, and somatic healing to support transformation.
Through her In Her Own Rite retreats and Journey to Sovereignty coaching, Susan empowers others to honor resilience, embrace sacred worth, and create futures rooted in equity and joy. www.susansanellihammack.com
Leticia
Dr. Carrie Sampson
Susan Sanelli Hammack
Bio here
Mea
Dr. Carrie Sampson
Dr. Carrie Sampson
Bio here
Dr. Carrie Sampson
Dr. Carrie Sampson
Dr. Carrie Sampson
Bio Here
