GATHERING OF THE ALLIANCE FOR THE REGENERATION OF THE ALTIPLANO-WIRIKUTA ~ JULY 12th, 13th, & 14th, 2023

From July 12th through July 14th, 2023, a third face-to-face meeting was held in the Las Margaritas ejido with the participation of various organizations and with the purpose of promoting the ecological, economic, and social well-being of the Altiplano Potosi, also known as Wirikuta to the Wixárika people. The Wixárika Research Center oversaw general coordination, that included invitations to Wixárika communities and inhabitants of the Altiplano region, as well as some delegates from Sonora and Jalisco who were invited to participate to share their environmental work.

The three days of work included free hands-on workshops in the morning and collective co-design sessions in the afternoon. After two years of practical workshops where we planted dozens of mesquites, agaves, and tuna-producing cacti in a milpa near the sacred place of Tamatsi Kauyumarie (Bernalejo) and at the primary school of the Las Margaritas ejido, we wanted to consider proposals to create a model for arid agroforestry in a single physical space in the region, thus articulating the economic needs of the region with contributions from local participants, Wixáritari from different communities, and civil associations focused on agroecological and biocultural training and development.

The meeting took place this time within the school calendar year to allow for a greater presence of the Las Margaritas primary school, and the parents of the ejido. In addition, we wanted to respect the planting season that occupies so many Wixárika families during the rainy season.

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