Indigenous leaders of Guanajuato confer the Command Staff on Libia García; she honors the self-rule of indigenous communities.
In the vibrant Mexican state of Guanajuato, under the leadership of Governor Libia Dennise García Muñoz Ledo, a new approach to supporting indigenous communities is taking shape. This approach emphasizes supporting indigenous entrepreneurship and capacity-building, particularly through initiatives like agreements with academic institutions to train indigenous women entrepreneurs, as seen in San Miguel de Allende.
This local government approach aligns with a broader recognition that effective development for indigenous peoples must be culturally rooted and participatory, integrating economic, social, and environmental dimensions to support traditional livelihoods and cultural identity. Although there are challenges such as socio-environmental pressures and poverty affecting indigenous groups in Mexico, Guanajuato's engagement in partnerships to boost indigenous entrepreneurship suggests a practical, community-focused strategy rather than isolated technical interventions.
The first woman to represent the indigenous communities of Guanajuato as the president of the State Indigenous Council was Maria Cirila Gallegos Gallegos, a resident of Tierra Blanca. Her tenure spanned from 2019 to 2025. The governor acknowledged the need to generate development and attention to the demands and petitions of the indigenous communities.
The governor highlighted that the communities with ancestral roots enrich the history, culture, and identity of Guanajuato. According to the 2012 Catalog of Indigenous Peoples and Communities, there are 96 communities in 13 municipalities in Guanajuato where nearly 75,000 indigenous people live.
During the commemoration of the International Day of Indigenous Peoples, Governor García Muñoz Ledo received the Baton of Command and a flower necklace from the Chichimeca and Otomi peoples, symbolizing their recognition of the governor as their representative and entrusting her with their interests.
The governor expressed a willingness to work together between the indigenous peoples and the Government. She respects the autonomy, self-determination, and right to define their own destiny of indigenous peoples. The governor's government commemorates indigenous peoples with respect and pride.
In the ceremony, the Chichimeca and Otomi peoples delivered the Baton of Command and a flower necklace, symbolizing their recognition of the governor as their representative and entrusting her with their interests. The governor emphasized a deep pride in the indigenous peoples and gave great value to their roots.
Libia Dennise García Muñoz Ledo delivered recognitions to the outgoing members of the State Indigenous Council. On this occasion, she emphasized that there can be no true development without the participation of all voices in Guanajuato. The governor emphasized cultural diversity as part of the wealth of the State and invited indigenous peoples to take a relevant role in the public life of the State. The governor expressed a commitment to continue working for the development of indigenous communities.
- The new approach to supporting indigenous communities in Guanajuato under Governor Libia Dennise García Muñoz Ledo not only focuses on entrepreneurship and capacity-building, but also prioritizes initiatives that preserve the cultural identity of these communities, making it a way to integrate home-and-garden (lifestyle) into their economic development.
- During the commemoration of the International Day of Indigenous Peoples, the governor received symbols of recognition from the Chichimeca and Otomi peoples, symbolizing their trust in her to preserve their unique culture, a vital aspect of home-and-garden (lifestyle) and the overall diversity of Guanajuato.
