Guardians of Wirikuta
Picture of Mama Chaly, a legendary Wixarika Mara'kame.
Preserving Wixarika Culture and Land
Help us Preserve the ancestral sacred lands of Wirikuta!
Modesto Rivera, a Wixarika Mara’akame (medicine man) from Nayarit, Mexico, together with his mother, Mama Chaly, and his family, ask for your help to preserve initial five acres of land in the sacred site of Wirikuta so they can plant and protect the Sacred Hikuri (peyote) cactus. This fundraiser will serve as a first step into aiding Modesto and his family in expanding the preservation area in a time of urgent need.
Hikuri.
Modesto is the son of Don Eustolio and Mama Chaly, two legendary Mara’akames. He is a spiritual leader and political representative of the state of Nayarit, Mexico. He was born in a Wixarika community in the high mountains of the Sierra Madre Occidental. Coming from an unbroken lineage of Marakames, he started his studies at an early age under his parents and followed the sacred path throughout his entire life, learning all about the Wixarika cosmology, music and art.
Picture of Mara'kame Modesto, son of Mama Chaly.
The Wixarika Nation & Ancestral Culture
The Wixarika, an indigenous people of Mexico, have safeguarded their rich traditions for centuries, honoring their deep connection to the elements of life. Each year, Wixarika Mara’akames and trusted kin embark on a sacred pilgrimage to Wirikuta, where they collect the revered Hikuri cactus, offer prayers, and seek blessings for their community and the world. This journey spans hundreds of miles, culminating in the harvest of enough Hikuri to sustain them for the year. Through ceremonial rituals with the Hikuri, the Marakame commune with the divine, ensuring the world's regeneration.
Picture of the Wixarika Pilgrimage to Wirikuta.
Our Mission
United by a shared commitment to preserve the sacred lands and cultures of our ancestors, we rally behind Modesto and the Wixarika nation. As Wirikuta faces devastation from mining and agriculture, specifically from the tomato plantations, our mission of indigenous cultural preservation and land conservation gains urgency. Thousands of acres have already succumbed to destruction, threatening not just the land but also the very essence of Wixarika culture.
The destruction of Wirikuta poses an extreme threat to the Wixarika and the sacred Hikuri medicine. By raising funds to purchase and return land to native hands, we honor our commitment to Mother Earth and her precious biodiversity. Our mission is clear: to ensure the future of Wirikuta and the Wixarika Nation, for the generations to come and for all of humanity.
From the top of the Sacred Mountain (Cerro Quemado), you can see the impact agriculture is having in the lands of Wirikuta.
Our Goal
Our goal is to raise $7,777 that will go towards:
-Purchase 5 acres of land for Modesto and his community
-Fees for purchases (includes taxes and lawyer fees)
-Rescuing peyote seeds/buttons and replanting them in safe protected land
The land will be purchased directly by Marakame Modesto and his family. This is our opportunity to give the lands back to the indigenous who have been guardians for thousands of years and know best how to preserve them.
Your financial assistance is instrumental in preserving this ancient culture, allowing the Wixarika to maintain their sacred sites and traditions. This is also an important step forward in re-balancing and regenerating acres of land, home to plants and animals, that have suffered under colonial and extractive systems.
We deeply appreciate your contribution to this fundraiser for the Wixarika Nation, the preservation of our planet, and the well-being of future generations.
