San Marcos has an indigenous mermaid named Sirena del Rio who shares her magic through storytelling and song. Embodied by master naturalist Jessica Mejia, Sirena del Rio weaves together elements of nature, heritage and mental health to teach young children about self-empowerment.
Join Sirena del Rio at the San Marcos Public Library on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. for a bilingual music series that guides children (and their parents, too) through an affirming journey of hands-on arts, crafts and activities.
“We have three objectives: Children's mental health, indigenous history and literacy,” Mejia said. “I intertwine all of those under the umbrella of a mermaid character that brings in arts and crafts and musicality. With that, Sirena comes in and brings the magic. But they leave learning that they are the magic.”
Mejia first began drawing inspiration and healing from the San Marcos River with her son, First Lt. Jonas Nava, back in 2006 when he was still a little boy. “I was not able to be as magical with him, with the struggles of mental health and living under the Texas State poverty line, and working, and going to school,” Mejia said. “Because the only magic and peace I could bring to our lives was the river, I wanted to do that for other children.” “Sirena & Friends” is structured to follow the energy of the children, so the program itself can take anywhere from one to three hours, depending on those participating.
“It’s not structured like school,” Mejia explained. “It’s more of a performance or a theatrical event. It’s interactive with the children and parents, because parents are a child’s first teacher.”
As Sirena, Mejia is able to foster a sense of connectedness and community within the children who come to “Sirena & Friends,” which has become even more vital to elementary-aged kids who attended school during the pandemic.
“Facial contact is so important because we lost that during the pandemic,” Mejia said. “I always end my ceremony with the children looking at each other’s eyes. I’ve made it a safe space to identify with one another because ultimately, we’re all related.”
Jessica Mejia and her son, Lt. Nava, are both graduates from Texas State University. Lt. Nava was the Bobcat ROTC Wing Commander at Texas State University, and Mejia continues to credit him as her main source of inspiration.
“He’s everything that hard work, dedication, faith, and magic creates,” Mejia said. “So much of the story is because there was a Mom and her son swimming at the river. He’s the reason I want to bless other children. I can give them some of that, like sowing seeds for generations to come.”
To learn more about Sirena del Rio, follow her on Facebook at @theindigenousmermaid or Instagram @sirena_del_rio. To find out more about programs at the San Marcos Public Library, visit sanmarcostx. gov/Library.
