Personas wixárikas descansando sobre piedras (2021) by Cultura JaliscoJalisco Culture
Ancestral roots
In the eternal mountains of the Sierra Madre Occidental lies the territory of over 20,000 Wixárika people, encompassing its three constituent communities: Tuapurie, Taateikie, and Wautɨa.
Words matter
They are commonly but incorrectly referred to as 'Huichol', which means 'the one who flees', a term far from the Wixárika spirit, which signifies a 'deep-hearted person' who 'loves knowledge'.
Ball Game (2023-03) by Claudia LópezJalisco Culture
The words of the elders
Governed by a council of elders, all teachings in Wixárika culture are passed down through oral tradition. They often gather beside Tatewari, or 'Grandfather Fire', to listen to the wisdom the elders share about the world.
Dos madres pertenecientes a una comunidad wixárika (2021) by Cultura JaliscoJalisco Culture
Community worldview
For the Wixaritaari people, the land and wind are connected not only with food and work, but also with joy and community ties. We are part of a world that is ours and to which we all belong. These are the foundations of cosmic harmony.
Wixaritaari women who play Basketball (2023-03) by Armando MorellónJalisco Culture
Sports as a cultural union
In the Wixárika community spirit, hundreds of women of different ages gather in an urban context in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area to play basketball with their Na'ayeri and Raramuri sisters.
Unbreakable bonds
These gatherings create a sense of community around the sport, providing companionship while they are away from their place of origin.
Wixaritaari women who play Basketball (2023-03) by Armando MorellónJalisco Culture
The power of sports and culture
The primary purpose of the basketball league is to foster ties among the Wixaritaari women living in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, promoting sisterhood and support to survive in a world full of contrasts.
Wixaritaari women who play Basketball (2023-03) by Armando MorellónJalisco Culture
The color of tradition
The games, played in their native language and wearing traditional attire, are a unique feature of the Wixárika 'Ukári Waikamete League.
Community identity
All the embroidery on their skirts is creatively designed by the Wixaritaari themselves, recalling the memory, nature, and customs of the Wixárika people.
Wixaritaari women who play Basketball (2023-03) by Armando MorellónJalisco Culture
Knowledge shared aloud
Not everything happens on the court. During training and games, mothers, grandmothers, and sisters take the opportunity to share traditional food and teach children to read and write, strengthening community ties and keeping their culture alive.
Wixaritaari women who play Basketball (2023-03) by Armando MorellónJalisco Culture
Building community
Basketball serves as a vehicle to strengthen the cultural identity of Wixaaritari women, even far from the sierra that represents their home. It demonstrates the power of the spirit and the legacy of their ancestors, as well as the bonds that sports can create.
Wixaritaari women who play Basketball (2023-03) by Armando MorellónJalisco Culture
Strengthening cultural identities
In response to the growing migratory flow, the league represents a collective effort to welcome and support young Wixaritaari women arriving in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, making them feel at home amidst the urban setting.
Wixaritaari women who play Basketball (2023-03) by Armando MorellónJalisco Culture
Identity and sisterhood
Respect, cultural identity, and sisterhood come into play on the court, every time the Ukári Waikamete league gathers to share more than just a basketball game.
Wixaritaari women who play Basketball (2023-03) by Armando MorellónJalisco Culture
Ukári Waikamete league:
A legacy that strengthens cultural identity
This story was made with the help and collaboration of Liga Wixárika Ukári Waikamete and Secretaría de Cultura de Jalisco.
