Although the 2025 federal budget allocated to Indigenous Peoples amounts to 13 billion pesos, these resources are not directly reaching the state’s Indigenous communities, denounced Rufino Cruz Cruz, governor of the Indigenous Childcare Department of the State of Campeche.
The representative recalled that since 2019, when he received his appointment and staff, they have not had the resources to operate, a situation that persists despite the promises of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and the continued presence of the administration headed by Claudia Sheinbaum. “Today we still have no money to work directly, since the resources are administered by the three levels of government and distributed among committees and delegates who are often not Indigenous,” he criticized.
Cruz Cruz denounced that the creation of parallel structures with external coordinators and representatives has displaced the true Indigenous peoples, leaving the Mayan, Chontal, Tzotzil, and Chol communities without participation. “The assemblies are not held with the indigenous people, but with civil society, and that is wrong,” he warned.
Regarding the indigenous census in Campeche, he reported that it is approximately 50% complete, although the process has been limited by its high cost. He emphasized the importance of this work, as it will allow for determining how many and who are truly indigenous people in the state, considering factors such as surnames, mother tongue, and community affiliation.
The indigenous governor announced that in the coming weeks they will hold a meeting at the Ministry of the Interior in Mexico City to demand clarity on the distribution of the federal budget and full recognition of indigenous state governors.
Source: tribunacampeche
