ABSTRACT
Wirikuta, sacred place where the deities get together, is a Mexican region of particular global importance due to the combination of its natural and cultural values; in addition to being representative of the Chihuahuan Desert, it is the final destination of an ancestral pilgrimage of 550 kilometers, made year after year, by members of each and every one of the Wixárika Communities, that together make up the Huichol people, who are located in the Sierra Madre Oriental. Due to its natural and cultural importance, Wirikuta has been protected by an Official Decree and has a Management Plan designating the region the Protected Natural Area under the Sacred Natural Site Modality of Huiricuta and the Historico-Cultural Route of the Huichol People. This Decree allows Indigenous management by the Wixárika people so they can follow their traditional cultural system. However, there are threats to the permanence of Wirikuta as it is known, including mining concessions in violations of the Mexican legal system and the Indigenous rights. This document aims to describe the role of Wixárika people in protecting Wirikuta and the main challenges and issues to address for the future of Wixárika people.
