In compliance with the Decree recognizing, protecting, preserving and safeguarding the sacred places and sites and the pilgrimage routes of the Wixárika, Náayeri, O’dam or Au’dam and Mexikan indigenous peoples, the Presidential Commission on Sacred Places installed boundary markers with their respective indicative plaques for the delimitation of the Sacred Place known, in the Wixárika language, as “Xapawiyemeta”.
Recognizing the inalienable rights of indigenous peoples to their sacred places and sites and executing the agreements of the Justice Plan of the Wixárika, Náayeri, O’dam or Au’dam and Mexikan Peoples, the Presidential Commission on Sacred Places placed 8 concrete boundary markers, each with a metal plaque bearing the name of the sacred site and the corresponding coordinate of the vertex that forms the polygon of the Sacred Place.
The Mexican Government delimits and places boundary markers in “Xapawiyemeta”, Isla de los Alacranes, Chapala, in compliance with the Decree of Sacred Places
A metal tsíkuri (popularly known as “Eye of God”, which represents the cosmogram of the worldview of these Indigenous Peoples) was also placed, oriented towards the Sacred Place of Wirikuta, place of sunrise and dawn, and a circular repository to deposit offerings.
Located in the South of Jalisco, “Xapawiyemeta”, which in the Wixárika language means “Home of Mother Rain”, associated with blue corn, and considered the place where Watakame, the envoy of the Mother of the Universe, Takutsi Naakawe, landed after the flood, was delimited in the following way: the first points were named in the Wixárika language and refer to its four communities: Tatei Kie, (San Andrés Cohamiata); Tuapurie, (Santa Catarina Cuexcomatitlán); Wuatia, (San Sebastián Teponahuaxtlan; and Kuruxi’Manuwe, (Tuxpan de Bolaños).
Meanwhile, the following boundary markers were named to refer to the “Mother Rain” in the O’dam or Au’dam languages: Duuk Jich Ñan/Jich Ñam Duk, in the Mexikan language: Nantse Kiahwi; and in the Náayeri language: Ta Nana’a.
The Government of Mexico delimits and places boundary markers in “Xapawiyemeta”, Isla de los Alacranes, Chapala, in compliance with the Decree of Sacred Places
The boundary marker considered by the Wixáritari as the main point was called Xapawiyemeta, (“Abode of Mother Rain”), which gives its name to the Sacred Place.
The general director of the INPI and technical secretary of the Presidential Commission of Sacred Places, Adelfo Regino Montes, pointed out that with this historic act the The Government of Mexico recognizes the inalienable rights of indigenous peoples to their Sacred Places and their special and spiritual relationship with their territory and Mother Earth.
He added that the cultural greatness of Mexico has its roots in the spiritual wisdom of its Indigenous Peoples, “who are the horizon and future of humanity.” At the same time, he thanked the traditional authorities Wixárika, Náayeri, O’dam or Au’dam and Mexikan for their participation and commitment in these works, since these are necessary actions to protect the cultural and natural heritage of the Sacred Places of the Indigenous Peoples.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Dialogue with the Indigenous Peoples of Mexico, of the Ministry of the Interior, Josefina Bravo Rangel, alternate president of the Presidential Commission of Sacred Places, representing the Secretary of the Interior, Luisa María Alcalde Luján, said that in each boundary marker the plaques alluding to the Sacred Places in their respective languages include the symbol of the hikuri, (peyote), which is their sacred plant and represents the older brother with his wisdom.
The Government of Mexico delimits and places boundary markers in “Xapawiyemeta”, Isla de los Alacranes, Chapala, in compliance with the Decree on Sacred Places
For their part, the traditional governors and representatives of the Wixárika, Náayeri, O’dam or Au’dam and Mexikan peoples who accompanied the installation of the boundary markers for two days, thanked the Government of Mexico in their respective native languages for recognizing their Sacred Places and their right to use and preserve them to carry out their traditional rituals and ceremonies, fundamental expressions of their worldviews, and to put a stop to the aggressions and invasions of their territories.
They pointed out that obtaining the protection and recognition of their Sacred Places has been a long process of work and building consensus among the authorities of the Indigenous Peoples of the states of Durango, Jalisco and Nayarit.
In this sense, they expressed their joy and satisfaction with the installation of the eight boundary markers, since with this act the Decree of Sacred Places continues to be executed. “It is wonderful to see the people together, because the union of the people allows us to have great achievements, through the Justice Plan of the Wixárika, Náayeri, O’dam or Au’dam and Mexikan Peoples,” they pointed out.
The Decree recognizing, protecting, preserving and safeguarding the sacred places and sites and pilgrimage routes of the Wixárika, Náayeri, O’dam or Au’dam and Mexikan indigenous peoples, was signed on August 9, 2023, by the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Meanwhile, the Presidential Commission on Sacred Places was installed on August 22 of the same year.
The Government of Mexico delimits and places boundary markers in “Xapawiyemeta”, Isla de los Alacranes, Chapala, in compliance with the Decree on Sacred Places
It is worth highlighting the support for these works by CONAGUA, since, as Isla de los Alacranes, in Lake Chapala, is a national property, its administration is under its charge.
The two days of work were attended by; the president of the Wixárika Union of Ceremonial Centers in Jalisco, Nayarit and Durango, Florencio López Carrillo; the general coordinator of the Wixárika Regional Council of Jalisco, Nayarit and Durango, Maurilio Ramírez Aguilar; the commissioner of Communal Property of San Bernardino de Milpillas Chico, Feliciano Simental Cano; the governor of Santa Catarina Cuexcomatitlán, Pablo Valenzuela Carillo as well as the mara’akame of the sacred places of the community of San Sebastian Teponahuaxtlán and its annex Tuxpan of the municipalities of Mezquitic and Bolaños of the state of Jalisco, Ramón González Carillo, among others.
Likewise, the president of the National Commission to Prevent and Eradicate Discrimination (CONAPRED), Claudia Olivia Morales Reza; of the National Institute of Anthropology and History; Jose Luis Perea González; of the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL), José María Bilbao Rodríguez; the Undersecretary of Human Rights of the Government of the State of Jalisco, Keila Jochebed Juárez González; the Director of the State Indigenous Commission, Isaura Matilde García Hernández;
As well as representatives of the Secretariat of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (SEDATU), the Agrarian Attorney’s Office (PA), the Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and the National Water Commission (CONAGUA), among others.
Source: gob
