Stop violence against indigenous women in Mexico

Today, we want to share how we are confronting the violence affecting Indigenous women in our communities—and how coming together to weave and learn a new craft is an act of collective organization that sets us free.

We were fortunate to open a workshop with Dora, an elder from the Isthmus region who has long been a defender of women’s rights. She shared her wisdom with us, raising awareness about the violence we experience in our communities. The workshop was also facilitated by Guiebeu, who shared insights on self-defense with us. Step by step, we developed strategies to amplify our voices. Our colleague Sara shared:

"We want empathy to grow within our community, but more than anything, we need to start naming the violence we endure and stop normalizing it. We told each other that it is not enough to simply listen—we also want to be the voice that so many women in our community need. Many of the women here are caregivers for the sick, carrying an immense burden on their shoulders. At the end of the workshop, I felt deeply moved when one of them invited me for a warm cup of atole to talk about life. These are the moments that make me feel we are truly coming closer together."

Alongside our discussions on gender violence, we also attended a toquillo bag-making workshop just days later, where nearly 30 women participated. It was incredible to see how we could support one another—because even though our teacher, Esmeralda, tried to guide every weaving hand, time was short, and we all wanted to progress at the same pace. So we said: if one of us learns how to weave, then all of us know how to make the bags. It became clear that the more we work together, the more compassionate and effective our communication becomes. We never imagined we would have to double the number of spots in our workshops, but seeing women willing to attend—even just to listen or assist someone else—was a powerful reminder of our collective strength.

Here in Mixtequilla, we are slowly learning to create spaces where women can find each other, speak to each other, and support one another in solving our challenges. Thanks to your support, we will continue finding ways to come together and share everything we dream for Mixtequilla.