Tanima, new delegate of the INPI in Jalisco: institutional resistance
Bianca América Enríquez López or Tanima, as her grandparents named her in Wixárika ceremony, was born in Bajío del Tule, San Sebastián Teponahuaxtlán.
Tanima grew up living in the community, and the assemblies sowed the first concerns about the rights of the native peoples.
With Perimetral Tanima shares her personal story and the new role at the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI), where she was appointed as a delegate.
Studying and activism
At the age of 11 she left her community to go to high school in Colotlán, where her family decided that she and her siblings could have an education. She had to face economic shortages and the barrier of the Spanish language but did so with the clarity of wanting to continue studying.
A moment that marked her life occurred with the visit of Sub comandante Marcos and the Zapatista Army of National Liberation to her community.
When she approached him with a notebook, Marcos asked her: What would you like to be when you grow up? And she replied, "the same as you, to defend the rights of indigenous peoples".
Then Sub comandante Marcos suggested that she study law and years later she did.
"As a Wixárika woman I have always been proud of who I am, of the language, of my clothing and although I went out to study far from my community I never forget where I am from... Right now, that I'm here it's for work, but my life is my community."
The arrival at the INPI
To get to the INPI, her path was one of active participation in spaces related to the rights of indigenous peoples. From her university stage she was integrated into forums, events and activities where she could get more involved in this field. The path led her to meetings in the context of the Wixárika, Naayéri, O'dam and Mexikan Justice Plan, promoted by President López Obrador. She worked in the State Human Rights Commission in the Third Vice Province and then in the Congress of the State of Jalisco after being a candidate for Senator for the Future Party. It was there that the Wixárika Regional Council asked her to collaborate in advising on the thematic axes of the Justice Plan; in September 2024 she was invited to be at the INPI Jalisco.
Accepting the position implied resigning from her job and assuming a great responsibility: the INPI in this region covers Colima and part of Zacatecas. For her, this achievement is not only the result of her own effort, but also of a history of struggle.
"I always like to say my grandmothers, my grandfathers, our ancestors, that they are the ones who have taken this step so that now they are, not yet, because there is a long way to go, but that little by little the issue of the rights of indigenous peoples is advancing" she reflects.
Institutional resistance
Being in the new mission makes her think and point out that the support of governments and other institutions is still limited, as she describes it: "Because it is an institution of indigenous peoples, I feel that they do not give it much importance, not as much as the state, even the municipalities, and I also dare to say that the same federal level". She also recognizes that the differences between political parties also make dialogue difficult.
"Being from a party like Morena – the federal government – and here Movimiento Ciudadano governs at the state level, you do feel that part" she says. So, I ask her: What is the role of the INPI in the security of the native peoples? The case of the Sierra Wixárika because it is one of the biggest problems they face. "They have even kidnapped people from the community, there are many missing people" she acknowledged, but she explains that security is not part of her powers in the INPI, but she does seek to support the communities through legal accompaniment. There is a specific area that provides support to victims, accompanying them in the processes before the prosecutor's office and providing interpreters when necessary.
As for the Justice Plan, she hopes that "through dialogue with the National Guard, the objective of the justice plan can be achieved with a presence of federal forces in the territory, since it is necessary to restore tranquility to the communities" she concluded.
Migrants and the Sergio Barrios community
Regarding the situation of migrant indigenous communities in Jalisco, such as the case of the Sergio Barrios indigenous community located in the municipality of Tlajomulco de Zuñíga, the head of the INPI explained that this community is part of the National Catalog of Indigenous Peoples; in Jalisco, 38 communities are recognized, and Sergio Barrios is part of the catalog he said.
You should know that indigenous peoples, even if they no longer reside in their communities, where they migrate to, maintain their communal organization and their own traditional authorities.
From the INPI, they have accompanied this community in their efforts and have promoted dialogue with the state government to achieve the legal concession of the land where they live. "It is supposed that it had already been determined that this land was going to be donated to them, there was already an agreement, but it was broken by the change of administrations", he commented.
Tanima recognized the complicated conditions in which the inhabitants of Sergio Barrios live due to the lack of basic infrastructure such as streets and drainage, which corresponds to the municipality and the state government.
Women's rights
In relation to her work plan and objectives, Tanima explained that the attributions of the institute are clearly defined, but that her personal commitment has been to strengthen some axes during her administration.
Since her arrival, one of her main priorities has been to guarantee transparency and accountability to indigenous communities; she emphasized that it is necessary for all calls, projects and resources to reach all the peoples of the state, respecting the multicultural character of Jalisco.
Another axis of her work plan has been the defense of women's rights, actions to strengthen the rights of indigenous and Afro-Mexican women with a gender, intersectional and intercultural perspective. It has sought to bring workshops and actions not only to the municipal capitals, but also to more remote locations.
In addition, she has insisted on directly attending to indigenous women who come to request support after experiencing situations of violence, guaranteeing legal and, if necessary, psychological accompaniment.
Yes, I am personally involved, talk to them personally; if they need something further, I'll be there.
