Indigenous cultures throughout the world are being threatened by the ever-growing disease of capitalism, colonialism, patriarchy and complete disregard for the natural elements which give us life. The indigenous soul, which resides in all living things, humans included, is at risk of extermination.

Right now, the lives of the Wixarika (Huichol), the indigenous of Mexico, are being threatened. 78 mining concessions for the Canadian Company First Majestic Silver have been approved by the Mexican Government. These mining operations are intended to be carried out in Wirikuta in San Luis Potosi state.

Since immemorial time, the Wixarika have participated in a pilgrimage to the sacred region of Wirikuta, recreating the long path that their ancestors walked to harvest their medicine. There has literally been a continuous stream of this culture from the beginning of their time.

Opening Wirikuta to mining puts this Indigenous culture and the fragile ecosystem of their homeland at risk.

According to First Majestic Silver, silver and gold are extracted from the Earth through "conventional crushing/grinding coupled with cyanidation and zinc precipitation." Water for their existing mining sites is obtained through rivers and wells. One of their mines spreads over "1,296 hectares of surface land that cover the areas where the company has the mines access, mine installations, and part of the access roads as well as an additional 160 hectares of surface land where the processing plant, camp, office facilities, maintenance shops, and tailings dams are located."

In order to begin mining in Wirikuta, roads will be needed, processing plants built and tailing dams put into place.

When contacted, First Majestic Silver failed to comment on inquiries regarding the amount of water used and methods of extraction intended for Wirikuta.

Circle of Blue gives some estimates on water consumption for mining: up to 26 million gallons of day for gold mining.

Tailing dams are at risk of leaking, contaminating fresh waterways and groundwater. Devastating breaches have occurred in Mexico already. In June of 2018, at least 5 people were killed and 249,000 cubic meters of tailings (65,778,841 gallons of contaminated water) were released. Tailing dams are known to fail.

Currently, Wirikuta is a UN-recognized Natural Heritage Site. We are petitioning UNESCO to declare Wirikuta a World Heritage Site, which would offer federal protection for this living, breathing portion of Earth and allow the Wixatika to preserve their way of life for generations to come.

This petition is an invitation to you, the reader, to use your voice and stand up to the extermination of your indigenous soul. Tell the UN that you have had enough. Let them know that you stand with the Wixatika. Tell them that you stand for the balance and harmony of the Earth and all living creatures, from the smallest to the greatest.