MAY 7, 2016
About 250 campesinos gathered today in Charco de Aruajo to celebrate the culture of the Cuenca de Independencia & talk about the “defense of the territory” & other problems facing the rural inhabitants of our region.
Over 20 communities were represented from San Miguel, Dolores, San Diego de la Union & San Luis de la Paz. All are members of either UCCANG or COCIRA – grassroots campesino organizat
Fifty-seven members of the San Miguel based COCIRA arrived by bus that was generously supplemented by a special donation of the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise. 8 promotors & Chela from CEDESA were in attendance. All the rest were members of UCCANG.
We began at 10am with an indigenous ceremony that recognized the four winds & the four elements of life. After that a panel of three persons, Chela (CEDESA), Araceli (UCCANG) & Jesusa from San Miguel spoke about the importance of protecting the “territory”, using native seeds in the planting of corn, fighting to have agua “limpia” & the other outside influences that are degrading the life in the rural areas.
Four work tables (discussion groups) were set up to discuss: Water & Health, Defense of the Territory, Saving the native planting & over 60 varieties of corn & saving the flora & fauna of the campo. Each group was instructed to devise specific activities that could be taken immediately to save the cultural roots of the communities.
Several persons offered entertainment in the form of songs, poems & special “felicidades” to the mothers in honor of Mother’s Day. Many wonderful story boards were on display showing the history of UCCANG, CEDESA, the Northern Guanajuato Beekeepers Association
As always a wonderful lunch was served by members of the community.
