Yurata Wixarika Community, Tepic, Mexico
This project was done in partnership with Boa Foundation
Fundraiser Result: $25,000 USD
The Wixarika, also known as the Huichol people, are an Indigenous community primarily based in the Sierra Madre Occidental region of Mexico. They are the traditional guardians of numerous sacred sites, with the most significant being the Wirikuta desert in San Luis Potosí. The Wixarika undertake sacred pilgrimages to these ceremonial sites to honor their ancestors and the deities that sustain their land. Despite pressures from modernization and external development, they continue to preserve their language, customs, and communal way of life, standing as a living example of cultural resilience and environmental stewardship.
Through this partnership, $25,000 was provided to strengthen cultural and community infrastructure, supporting the Wixarika’s ongoing efforts to preserve their traditions and safeguard their sacred sites for future generations. These funds were directed toward key initiatives that reinforce cultural continuity and community well-being, including:
Impact Areas
Project Overview
Aldeia Sagrada and the new transportation fleet together represent a holistic vision: cultural renewal, inter-village connection, and the strengthening of Yawanawá sovereignty. They stand as living testaments to resilience, ensuring that Yawanawá culture, spirituality, and daily life continue to flourish in harmony with the forest.
PEOPLE
Wixarika
LOCATION
Tepic, Mexico
FUNDS RAISED
$25,000
DATE
2019
Key Milestones
Purchased adjacent land for traditional corn cultivation, expanding community space, and sustaining the five annual ceremonies that honor the sacred corn spirit at the heart of Wixarika culture.
Constructed a roofed ceremonial gathering space to host traditional rituals, community meetings, and cultural celebrations.
Built a dedicated room for Mara’kame and 100-year-old community leader Eustolio Rivera de la Cruz, honoring his role as spiritual leader and custodian of ancestral wisdom.