Rarámuri communities demand self-determination in Chihuahua
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Rarámuri leaders from the Norogachi region of Chihuahua, Mexico, are asking officials to respect their right to self-determination.
They claim local officials are attempting to dictate how they spend funds from the Fondo Federal de Aportaciones para la Infraestructura Social para Pueblos y Comunidades Indígenas y Afromexicanas (Faispiam), a federal fund for Indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities. The Rarámuri want to make decisions about projects in community assemblies, rather than accepting projects, suppliers, and service providers chosen by government employees.
The community members explained that officials recently proposed investing in latrines, but many residents prefer to use the funds for different projects. They also noted that the public servants recommending contractors for projects often have personal connections to those businesses.
Leaders including Isidro Gardea García and Jesús Raúl Naba Peña wrote to President Claudia Sheinbaum and the Instituto Nacional de Pueblos Indígenas (Inpi) to reject “any form of guardianship over our community rights.” They stated their communities are developing skills to manage their own resources and believe external control hinders their progress and reduces their autonomy. They insist on the right to choose local workers and suppliers so that economic benefits remain within the Rarámuri region.
The Rarámuri maintain their community assemblies have internal controls to manage Faispiam funds transparently and with consensus. They also object to limitations on how the funds can be spent, arguing it ignores the actual priorities of their communities.
