SchoolsEstela RomeroJanuary 14, 2022Monarch butterflies

Monarch Butterflies "The Daughters of the Sun"

SchoolsEstela RomeroJanuary 14, 2022Monarch butterflies

THE VISIT

“Emiliano Zapata” Indigenous Elementary

Sabaneta Quintana Community

“Sierra Chincua” Sanctuary

Coordinates: 19.6576056 -100.1948958

Just as monarchs have been ancestral to our Oyamel fir forests, the Otomí and the Mazahua local indigenous groups have been ancestrally living at the Reserve as well.

Today, the Symbolic Migration visited the “Emiliano Zapata” Indigenous Elementary, one of the several schools located around the “Sierra Chincua” Sanctuary.

While during the last decades, the language and apparel of our indigenous groups have been disappearing, there is now in México a serious intent to rescue this culture. Indigenous languages are being revived through training and contracting local indigenous teachers who speak their mother language. Indigenous apparel is being promoted through the attribution of high value to handcrafted fabrics, designs, and patterns of art.

Every element in nature has been part of a whole cosmovision or concept of life to our indigenous Mexican groups. Butterflies are part of this cosmovision.

Monarch butterflies are, for our Mazahua communities, “The Daughters of the Sun.”

As we review the importance of the conservation of our unique Oyamel fir forests, Symbolic Migration takes us back to our roots. The forests are not just critical as the monarchs’ winter home, but they are the vital connection for our local communities to every component of the natural environment.

Instructor Estela took advantage of these children’s bilingual skills to let them know how exceptional a person who can speak two languages is!

“Zaa!” (tree)

“Xepje!” (butterfly)

Children mixed Mazahua and Spanish words while reflecting on the richness of our ancestral forests, their function as a “sponge” and the many benefits we obtain from them.