by the El Reportero’s news services
The Raramuri Indians, inhabitants of the Sierra Tarahumara region of the northern state of Chihuahua, are battling severe food shortages and a threat to their traditional way of life amid Mexico’s most worst drought in 71 years.
“The situation is difficult,” Tomas Ruiz, a member of the Tarahumara Supreme Council, said. “We had droughts for three years and it’s gotten worse this year; and the frost even left us unable to bring in the harvest.”
The Raramuri (“the light-footed ones”), or Tarahumara, a community of roughly 100,000 people, inhabit scattered hamlets in the Tarahumara mountains. They prefer to live far from urban areas and remain in direct contact with nature, a pillar of their ancient culture.
Like other peasant communities in northern Mexico, the Raramuri face a severe scarcity of food and cattle due to the drought, prompting them to travel to Mexico City to demand emergency assistance from the federal authorities.
Raramuri Indians, as well as peasants from several states in northern Mexico, have been holding demonstrations in recent days in Mexico City, walking or riding on horseback or tractors through the streets and holding up signs demanding more drought-relief funds.
