Wirikuta is Not for Sale, It is Loved and Defense: 13 Years in Defense of Wixarika Sacred Territory

After 13 years of constant struggle, the Wixárika Regional Council for the Defense of Wirikuta (CRW), a coalition comprised of traditional, civil, and agrarian authorities from the Wixaritari communities of Santa Catarina Cuexcomatitlán, San Sebastián Teponahuaxtlán, and Tuxpan de Bolaños in Jalisco, and Bancos de San Hipólito, continues to demand that the Mexican State cancel the 78 mining concessions that threaten the sacred land of Wirikuta and its 140,000 hectares, which extend across the municipalities of Real de Catorce, Charcas, Vanegas, Villa de Guadalupe, and Villa de la Paz, in the state of San Luis Potosí.

This was declared during the forum "Wirikuta: 13 Years in Defense of the Sacred Territory," held at Casa Clavijero on Thursday, April 18, where the traditional, civil, and agrarian authorities of the Wixaritari communities of Jalisco and Durango reaffirmed their commitment to the defense of Wirikuta and other sacred territories, denouncing any attempt to impose mega-mining projects or other activities that jeopardize their cultural and environmental heritage.

During the event, the CRW highlighted the achievements made to date, emphasizing the strength provided by their deities and the unity of the communities. They also stressed the impact of the Traditional Expert Report presented in a legal challenge in February 2012, which led to the complete suspension of mining activity pending a final ruling.

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