Background on Diego Prieto and His Relevance
Diego Prieto Hernández, an accomplished anthropologist, served as the director of Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) for nine years, from 2016 until his recent resignation. His departure comes as the Mexican cultural landscape undergoes significant transformations, particularly in the realm of heritage preservation.
Prieto’s resignation has drawn attention due to the absence of Claudia Curiel de Icaza, the federal Secretary of Culture. Curiel was reportedly occupied with addressing concerns from actors regarding unregulated use of artificial intelligence technology.
Prieto’s Announcement and Reasons for Resignation
On Wednesday, Prieto convened a meeting with directors of various INAH departments to communicate his reasons for stepping down. He emphasized the need for structural changes in cultural preservation, citing the importance of addressing living heritage and intangible cultural aspects.
“The new regulation will soon be published, which includes the creation of what we’ll call the Unit for Living Cultures, Intangible Heritage, and Interculturality,” Prieto explained. “This proposal was initially presented to President Claudia Sheinbaum during her transition period. There were discussions about forming an institute that would encompass several cultural entities under the Secretariat of Culture. Although there were some initial concerns from the president and Secretary Curiel, I believed it was crucial to promote cultural action aimed at preserving, promoting, and safeguarding living heritage—an essential aspect that also includes intangible cultural heritage recognized internationally.”
“These transformative governments should prioritize the cultures of marginalized sectors, indigenous peoples, and popular cultures,” Prieto continued. “It’s important to preserve both material and immaterial heritage, as the latter cannot exist without the former. Many indigenous communities do not fully grasp this Western duality.”
New Interinstitutional Project
Prieto announced that the new regulation would establish a new unit with two general directorates: “Technical and Research Direction of Popular Cultures” and “Territorial Action and Community Work Directorate.” These directorates will collaborate with the INAH, focusing on community engagement and social-cultural promotion.
“My challenge now is to create an institution that does not currently exist—a new unit,” Prieto stated. “We must establish a virtuous triangle involving the INAH, INBAL (National Institute of Folklore), and maintain close ties with the National Institute of Indigenous Languages (Inali). The President has asked us to revitalize the Inali and establish transversal relationships with Fonart (National Arts Fund) and the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI).”
“We will work closely with the INPI to support their development initiatives, particularly those related to justice plans in indigenous regions across Mexico,” Prieto added.
Prieto’s Decision to Step Down
“This is the plan, and this is why I must leave the institute,” Prieto concluded, expressing his affection for the organization while emphasizing the necessity of moving forward.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Diego Prieto Hernández? An anthropologist who served as the director of Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) from 2016 to 2023.
- Why did Diego Prieto resign from INAH? Prieto resigned due to his belief that structural changes were necessary in cultural preservation, particularly focusing on living heritage and intangible cultural aspects.
- What is the new interinstitutional project Prieto announced? The new regulation will create a unit with two general directorates: “Technical and Research Direction of Popular Cultures” and “Territorial Action and Community Work Directorate.” These directorates will collaborate with the INAH, focusing on community engagement and social-cultural promotion.
- What are Prieto’s plans after leaving INAH? Prieto aims to establish a virtuous triangle involving the INAH, INBAL, and maintain close ties with the National Institute of Indigenous Languages (Inali) while supporting the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI) in their development initiatives.