Zapatista graffiti in a small town outside of San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico
Throughout my years of study, I have increasingly become interested in the indigenous populations in Mexico and Central America. I have been visiting the state of Chiapas that contains the largest population of indigenous people and is also the poorest region of the state.
For the poorest state to have the most indigenous people is far from a coincidence. They seek to preserve their traditional ways of life and are often discriminated against by their own nation. Battles between the indigenous population and the Mexican state have gone on for decades and unfortunately, still continues today.
The Zapatista movement (an armed revolutionary group based in Chiapas) began in 1994 and have been in a declared war against the “Mexican state” ever since. During this time, the North American Free Trade Agreement was signed between Mexico, the United States, and Canada, which ended up taking jobs away from local farmers in Mexico while throwing millions into poverty. It also revoked Article 27 of the Mexican constitution which granted land rights to the indigenous. After the article was revoked, they were driven off their lands by the government.
Woman cook tortillas on a small open fire for 6 other family members living in a one-room home -San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico
While the Chiapas have taken steps to improve the lives of the indigenous population and maintain their fundamental rights, more still needs to be done. A big step occurred in 2009 when the state adopted the Chiapas-UN Agenda. The deal put a strong focus on improving health and education while dealing with the poverty and the environment. The state amended its constitution in the process. While each president promises to lend a helping to these communities, too often they fall short.
My visits have indicated that this ideology has never died and the people will always reach for their goal of demolishing deprivation and injustice within Chiapas. Their continued revolutionary ways set an example for the rest of the world that corruption, poverty, injustice, and environmental devastation will not be tolerated as the underdog will continue to push forward until justice is served.
My Perpetual Journey 