September 22-28, 2024
Exact timing is subject to change
Sunday, September 22: Mexico City
4:30 – 6:00 pm: Opening Session
6:30 – 8:00 pm: Welcome Dinner
Monday, September 23: Mexico City
Morning:
Orientation with AJWS President & CEO, Local Colleagues, and Experts
Lunch
Afternoon:
Partner Visit: Enlaces Nacionales
Enlaces Nacionales is a national network affiliated with the Colectivo Familiares en Busqueda Maria Herrera, and coordinates approximately 160 colectivos from across Mexico to participate in peer learning exchanges, public actions as well as to carry out national-level field searches for the disappeared through their annual Brigada Nacional (National Brigade). This network space is connected to Maria Herrera (who spoke at our last board meeting) and both she and her son, Juan Carlos, are heavily involved in leading its work.
Evening: Dinner
Volga Hotel
Tuesday, September 24: Mexico City > Oaxaca
Morning:
Tour of La Glorieta de las y los Desaparecido and discussion of Antimonuments
Lunch
Afternoon: Travel to Oaxaca
Evening: Dinner
Wednesday, September 25: Oaxaca
Morning:
Partner Visit: SER Mixe
Ser Mixe Property
Servicios del Pueblo Mixe (SER Mixe) is an indigenous organization founded in 1988 with the dual mission of contributing to the processes of autonomy and collective rights of the Ayuuk (Mixe) indigenous people in the Ayuuk region of Oaxaca. They work on sustainable development, gender and women’s rights, culture and education, and communication. SER Mixe participates in spaces critical to the advancement of indigenous rights at the state, national and international levels, including the United Nations.
Lunch
Afternoon: Oaxaca Walking Tour
Evening: Dinner
Thursday, September 26: Oaxaca
Morning:
Partner Visit: UNOSJO
UNOSJO is an Zapotec indigenous organization whose influential work on food sovereignty and Indigenous Peoples’ rights extends beyond Oaxaca state. It is one of the leading Indigenous organizations in Latin America working on food sovereignty, particularly in terms of the defense of native corn varieties against GMO crops and was instrumental in exposing the contamination of native corn by GMO varieties. UNOSJO plays a lead role in the Network in Defense of Heirloom Corn (in 22 Mexican states) and the National Indigenous Congress (CNI). UNOSJO also plays a vital role in supporting Indigenous Peoples to defend their cultures and territories by reviving and using their traditional governance structures and principles.
Lunch
Guelatao de Juare
5:00 – 7:00 pm: Free Time
Evening: Dinner
Friday, September 27: Oaxaca
Morning:
Partner Visit: EDUCA
EDUCA is dedicated to promoting sustainable development in indigenous and marginalized communities in Oaxaca, Mexico. They’re defending their land against harmful mining projects and protecting their river from the construction of a hydro-electric dam that would damage the delicate ecosystem.
Lunch
Intanoni Tortilla Experience
6:15 pm: Closing Session
7:30 pm: Farewell Dinner
Saturday, September 28
Departures