Those who write books in indigenous languages are not in it for the E.L. James money or fame. Javier Castellanos, who won the 2002 Premio Nacional de Literatura Indígena Nezahualcóyotl, said that authors of books in indigenous languages rarely have critics, let alone readers. Despite the modest audience for the work, the importance can’t be overstated. It’s one way that native languages are being kept alive.

Castellanos, with the help of Jóvenes Creadores del Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes, tutors a group of young writers who have been working on ambitious and completely badass projects. There’s Pergentino José from Oaxaca, who plans to take the oral stories and traditions of Zapoteco de Loxicha into stories that can be held. For Elizabeth Sáenz Díaz, it’s about writing stories so that newer generations can continue to have a connection to Zoque.

Because it’s impressive to hear about these projects, we’ve compiled a list of five writers who are holding it down for the indigenous populations.