Mexico's Wixárika People Take Protests to Vancouver and New York City

In New York, the Wixárika delegates spoke out at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, where more than 1,000 Indigenous people from all parts of the world are gathered to assess progress in implementing the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Wixárika representative Santos de la Cruz addressed the Forum on May 20, calling on Mexico to uphold the protected status of the Wirikuta Natural and Cultural Reserve, an area that is sacred to the Wixárika people. In violation of the Wirikuta Reserve’s management plan, the Mexican government granted mining concessions there to the Canadian mining company First Majestic Silver.  

Felipe Serio Chino and Santos de la Cruz with Huichol  rights activist Armando
Loizaga in the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations in New York.

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