Background on Irma Pineda and Her Relevance
Irma Pineda, a renowned Zapotec poet and former representative of indigenous peoples at the United Nations from 2020 to 2022, has shared her thoughts on the recent announcement regarding a new unit focused on living cultures within Mexico’s federal culture department.
The Announcement and Its Implications
Claudia Curiel de Icaza, the federal Secretary of Culture, announced that Diego Prieto would leave his position as head of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) to lead the new Strategic Unit for Living Cultures, Material and Immaterial Heritage, and Interculturality. Meanwhile, Joel Omar Vázquez Herrera will take over as the head of INAH once the Secretariat of Culture’s regulations are updated.
Pineda questions the necessity of creating another institution when there are already existing bodies like the General Directorate of Popular Cultures, the National Institute of Indigenous Languages (INALI), and the National Fund for the Promotion of Crafts (FONART) dedicated to these living cultures.
Concerns Over Consolidation
She also expresses concern that the plan might involve merging or eliminating these existing institutions, concentrating their respective lines of action into the new unit. Pineda believes that the Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) should actively participate in implementing crucial actions, such as constructing or strengthening educational programs for the preservation of indigenous languages.
“Schools have historically been responsible for suppressing indigenous languages through emotional, psychological, and physical violence. Schools still hold significant power in communities and can play a crucial role in returning languages to the people,” Pineda emphasizes.
Budgetary Concerns
Pineda stresses the importance of adequate funding for any ambitious project related to living cultures, especially since indigenous communities and populations are developing their own proposals based on their unique needs and worldviews.
“In many cases, indigenous communities have their own projects tailored to their specific requirements. They don’t need external projects dictating what they should do; rather, they sometimes require technical assistance and, most importantly, budget allocations,” she explains.
Timing of the Announcement
The announcement of the new unit coincides with the start of legislative meetings between the Secretariat of Hacienda and Credit Public (SHCP) and the presentation of General Policy Guidelines for Economic Policy and the construction of the 2026 Budget Package. This period also marks the beginning of discussions and negotiations for budgetary allocations to the cultural sector.
“The cultural sector is often the first to face budget cuts, and within this sector, institutions related to indigenous populations or cultures and languages suffer the most,” Pineda points out.
Historically, at least 60% of budgetary allocations have gone towards bureaucratic expenses, she adds.
Updating the Indigenous Languages Catalog
In 2008, the Catalog of National Indigenous Languages was published, detailing 68 languages with 364 variants in Mexico. Of these, 64 were classified as being at very high risk, 43 at high risk, and 72 at medium risk. Since then, what has become of the variants nearing extinction?
Pineda agrees that an update to the catalog is necessary, possibly as one of the initial actions for the new unit. She highlights that in the past 15 years, some languages have practically disappeared while others are being reclaimed, such as the ndé or Apache language, once thought to be extinct but now sought for recognition in the catalog by a speaking population.
Key Recommendations
Pineda advocates for the new unit to be led by someone with extensive experience in public service and working with indigenous communities. She also hopes that the integration of institutions like FONART, INALI, or Popular Cultures into this new department will genuinely strengthen them.
Ultimately, Pineda emphasizes the importance of respecting the consultation rights of all indigenous peoples and communities, as violating these rights can lead to the proliferation of extractive practices.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is Irma Pineda’s background? Irma Pineda is a Zapotec poet and former representative of indigenous peoples at the United Nations from 2020 to 2022.
- What is the new unit announced by the federal Secretary of Culture? The new Strategic Unit for Living Cultures, Material and Immaterial Heritage, and Interculturality will be led by Diego Prieto, former head of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
- Why does Pineda question the creation of this new unit? Pineda believes that existing institutions like the General Directorate of Popular Cultures, INALI, and FONART already serve the purpose of preserving living cultures.
- What are Pineda’s concerns regarding consolidation of institutions? Pineda is concerned that the plan might involve merging or eliminating existing institutions, which could weaken efforts to preserve indigenous cultures and languages.
- Why does Pineda stress the importance of budget allocations? Pineda emphasizes that indigenous communities have their own projects based on unique needs and worldviews, requiring technical assistance and budgetary support.
- What is the significance of updating the Catalog of National Indigenous Languages? An updated catalog would acknowledge changes in indigenous languages over the past 15 years, including both disappearing and reclaimed languages.
- What are Pineda’s recommendations for the new unit? Pineda recommends leadership with extensive public service experience and the genuine strengthening of integrated institutions like FONART, INALI, and Popular Cultures.
- Why is respecting indigenous consultation rights important? Respecting indigenous consultation rights prevents the proliferation of extractive practices that can harm these communities.
