Hechiceros and Indigenas

### Definition and History

*Hechicero* is the long-form Spanglish of "wizard", the common English term for a magic-user established in the *Wizarding World*/Potterverse by author JK Rowling. Within the OAKS collection, this term is commonly shortened to *hechi*, pronounced eCH-ee with a silent leading *h.* By what was once an official Congress definition, *hechi* can only refer to a user of magic innately within themselves, as opposed to the *Indígena* tradition that anyone capable of understanding the natural magical properties around them is free to use them safely for non-harmful intents. The Congress no longer officially recognizes any authority acknowledging southern and southwestern American *hechicero* culture, or the existence of literal and figurative "schools" of thought that conflict with the *magia blanca* practiced institutionally in New York and Massachusetts in a European fashion.

*Indígena* refers to the racial-cultural group of indigenous inhabitants of the North American continent with unique magical practices distinct from European or American "wizards" or "*hechicero*." Before colonization or settlement by non-indigenous peoples to the Americas, there was no concept of *desencantade*, "no-maj", or "muggle." *Indí lanza*, as it is sometimes called, could be used by anyone with the skill and patience to interact with the innate magical properties of non-human life, such as wild and natural plants and animals. *Indí* people found it preposterous that western-moving peopled fleeing persecution would create additional obstacles to cooperation with the larger society unaware of magic.

> *You've left your homeland, fearing for your lives and for your children's lives. You come to us, needing aid, but won't take it from hands that know differently from yours. What we borrow from the earth, what you claim to have within you, they are only different because you say so.*
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In general, *magia blanca* society and tradition has fueled conflict and tension that is seen throughout colonized American history as witch hunts, religious persecution, cultural suppression, racism, and genocide. The Congress has even faced censure from its supposed "peers" internationally for mishandling of information and interactions with non-magical society.

### Wanded and Wandless magic

Within Oaks, several species of magical and non-magical beings coexist, and many kinds of plants and animals are kept and cultivated. The true distinction between coresidents of Sorcery City is their use of wands, focal objects, or no channeling aids.

#### The Odic Baron Society

This upperclassmen club of *magia blanca* users subscribe to northern European practices endorsing the belief that magic can and should only be used by people who have been chosen as "worthy" by professionally made wands. They maintain a membership chapter at Oaks, holding meetings where they train with wands to complete magical and daily life tasks. The club sponsors the purchase of wands made in Norway, exclusively. Otherwise, members are responsible for the expense of purchasing their wand from other sources.

#### Mack Julien

During her time at Oaks, Mack was Valedictorian for several years, performing better than *hechi* and *no-má* alike in every class she took. Her focal "object" of choice is a tattoo, or multiple tattoos, of simple brown spots and splotches that move over her skin in patterns and various speeds or intensities whenever she uses internal magic. Despite protestations of innocence, she was once accused of attempting to hypnotize an integrated audience of her violin performance using subtle *lanza* that accusers claim was given away by her tattoos' movement. Julien maintains there was no such movement, and she had no such intent.

### *Fantástico*

Oaks is known to house, employ, and educate non-human magical beings such as fae, lycanthropes, and other humanoid or human-like creatures. Headmaster O'Brien takes principle responsibility for maintaining brewed batches of human transfiguration substances usable by this population to blend in with the rest of Oaks outside Sorcery City, and beyond the campus in the world. Annually, on Halloween, O'Brien and the Medicinal Magic department adjusts dosages of these substances to allow partial transfiguration, giving *Fantástico* a chance to present a blended appearance that could pass as a costume during holiday festivities.

Cavan advocates for a future where magical suffrage is extended to *Fantástico*, including those who otherwise stay out of *hechi* government and congressional matters.