Within the framework of International Mother Language Day, established by UNESCO in 1999, the Cultural Secretariat of Jalisco has prepared a series of activities to promote linguistic and cultural diversity, as well as multilingualism. These initiatives will take place in various locations in Guadalajara and San Pedro Tlaquepaque, featuring workshops, readings, exhibitions, and talks that will highlight the richness of indigenous languages and their role in the preservation of cultural identity.
Ruth Escamilla Monroy, Head of Language and Literature at the Cultural Secretariat, emphasized the importance of promoting multilingualism as a means to foster understanding among nations. "When a language is lost, an entire cultural heritage is lost as well," she stated. Guadalupe Arredondo Ochoa, Head of Intangible Heritage, highlighted the linguistic diversity in Jalisco, with speakers of more than 50 indigenous languages.
The Cultural Center Patio Los Ángeles will host workshops for children in languages such as wixárika, mixteco, náhuatl, and p’urhépecha, from February 19 to 21. The workshops will feature teaching materials and playful activities to encourage interest in indigenous languages among new generations, led by Diego Gerardo Sandoval Echeverría.
At the Regional Museum of Guadalajara, there will be a presentation of the Yuitiarika Hiiwemete project, followed by a talk on the writing norm of the wixárika language by linguist Julio Ramírez De la Cruz. The exhibition Cambio de Vara Itsi Patsixa Wuautia will also be inaugurated, which will remain open until March 25.
Additionally, from February 27 to March 2, the Regional Museum of Ceramics in San Pedro Tlaquepaque will be the venue for workshops on mother tongue and a handmade and gastronomic showcase, organized by the collective Mujeres Raíces ZMG, composed of representatives from eight indigenous cultures. These activities aim not only to commemorate International Mother Language Day but also to raise awareness of the importance of preserving indigenous languages as a vital part of cultural heritage.
