UNESCO has officially added the ancient Wixárika pilgrimage route to its prestigious Intangible Cultural Heritage List, marking a historic first for living Indigenous traditions in Latin America.
The route, known as “Tatehuarí Huajuyé” (The Path of Our Grandfather Fire), spans an impressive 500 kilometers across five Mexican states – Nayarit, Jalisco, Zacatecas, Durango, and San Luis Potosí. This network of sacred paths begins in the Sierra los Huicholes and extends to Wirikuta in the Chihuahuan Desert.
This recognition comes after a 30-year effort by the Wixárika people to gain international protection for their cultural heritage. The route is considered one of the few pre-Columbian pathways still actively used in the Americas.
Significance and Universal Value
According to Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the route’s universal value stems from its connection to sacred sites and key elements of Wixárika tradition, including:
- Fire
- Rain
- Corn cultivation
- Peyote
- Symbolic animals like the golden eagle, wolf, and deer
UNESCO Designation Requirements
The UNESCO designation requires establishing a management unit and implementing a comprehensive conservation plan with direct participation from the Wixárika Regional Council and Indigenous communities.
Environmental Challenges
Environmental challenges remain significant, as mining operations and peyote tourism have created problems along the route. The Wixárika people hope this international recognition will serve as a tool to protect their sacred territories from extractive industries and agricultural threats that endanger their cultural practices.
For more details, you can read the original article on Mexico News Daily.
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