San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico - On Sunday July 14, the United Communities of Nayarit Organization was formed and officially named "Ta Yeiyari" which is the Huichol expression for "Our [Huichol] customs and traditions."

According to newly appointed president Carolina Carrillo Muñoz, the new organization aims to defend and preserve the cultural heritage of the Huichol people. "Ta Yeiyari will rescue the traditions of our ethnicity. We want to strengthen this wealth we have," she said.

"We are asking all indigenous people to give more support to our culture, because many people do not value what we have, our roots," said Carrillo Muñoz.

The initiation ceremony was held at la Isla del Rey, where the Huichol culture recognizes the deity Haramara Tatei. To reach the sacred place, those present were "baptized" with marine waters, eager to receive the protection of their God. One by one, representatives from various regions of Nayarit were bathed in the waters of the Mexican Pacific.

They traveled from every corner of the Sierra Madre Mountains, each participant bearing offerings - Huichol tamales with Creole bean fillings, candles, ears of corn, and other gifts to please Tatei Haramara - to the bottom where they found the entourage, and the milky white "Sacred Rock" that shines, untouched, in the midst of deep blue.

After paying their respects to the Wixarica deity, Eulogio de la Cruz Gonzalez raised his voice in worshipful song, before explaining, in their language, the reasons for the meeting.

"Though we are accustomed to having these meetings in classrooms, sitting with notebooks and pencil in hand, this sui generis meeting is in the holy place, and is so defined," said Efrain Moreno Hernandez of the National Development of Indigenous Peoples Commission (CDI).

In the sands of Isla del Rey all protests were surrendered to the leaders of this organization, composed of its President, Carolina Carrillo Muñoz; Vice President, Angel Carrillo Muñoz; and Secretary Isidro Gonzalez, among others.

Nayarit Local Representative J. Santos Renteria de la Cruz was there representing District VI, which has the largest indigenous populations. "Many Huichol people do not recognize their own customs, their own traditions, their own language... this organization will develop projects for the indigenous people," he said.