In a major victory, the judicial power of San Luis Potosí, Mexico has suspended mining concessions in the territory of Wirikuta, sacred to the Wixarika (Huichol) people.
In a major victory, the judicial power of San Luis Potosí, Mexico has suspended mining concessions in the territory of Wirikuta, sacred to the Wixarika (Huichol) people.
Por Tracy L. Barnett de The Esperanza Project
En un contexto de aumento de las tensiones en la región y otros acontecimientos preocupantes, los líderes Wixarika han presentado un amparo para detener la perforación ilegal para la exploración de oro y plata en sus sagradas tierras ancestrales de Wirikuta.
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By Tracy L. Barnett of The Esperanza Project
Against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the region and other worrisome developments, Wixarika leaders have filed an injunction to stop the illegal drilling in exploration for gold and silver in their ancestral sacred lands of Wirikuta.
The Wirikuta Defense Front released their annual report on the mining concessions in their territory and the threats they represent to their people and have presented the information to James Anaya, the UN Special Rapporteur for Indigenous Peoples on April 18th.
The federal government of Mexico has proposed the creation of a Biosphere Reserve in the area of Wirikuta, sacred site to the Wixarika (Huichol) people and the battle ground for a silver mine first proposed by Canadian company First Majestic Silver, and others. The biosphere reserve would cover 191,000 hectares, according to Mexico’s National Commission on Natural Protected Areas.
In what is deemed an extensive media ruse, the government of Mexico announced in July that they would be extending a total of 75,000 hectares to what they’ve called a National Mining Reserve for the benefit of the Wixráica (Huichol) people.
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that we are headquartered on Massachusett land, in Cambridge, MA, and we thank the past, current, and future Indigenous stewards of this territory.
