Getting To the Root Inc

The Wixárika people, original guardians of Wirikuta, are at the forefront of preserving their ancestral land and traditions in the face of increasing threats. This sacred desert, a birthplace of spiritual practices and the revered hikuri (peyote) cactus, is under siege from mining and privatization. Yet, a powerful vision for reclaiming and protecting this land emerges.

Our Mission: Empowering the Stewards of Wirikuta

We aim to secure 40 acres of land offered to Elder Marakame Modesto Rivera and his community of Yurata from the Wixarika Naition. This land, valued at $60,000 USD, represents an essential step in restoring access for the Wixárika people to perform their annual pilgrimages, build altars, and continue their sacred ceremonies without interference. The goal is to raise $15,000 and help impulse this project with a quarter of the total quoted value.

By supporting this initiative, you are not just safeguarding land but empowering its original caretakers to pass down their spiritual heritage. This sacred site enables the Wixárika to fulfill their responsibility to the Earth—offering prayers, dances, and ceremonies that maintain the balance of life’s elements: the sun, wind, water, and soil.

Why This Matters:

Cultural Preservation: Securing this land ensures a space for uninterrupted ceremonies, safeguarding traditions for future generations.

Ecological Stewardship: Indigenous wisdom fosters the protection of fragile ecosystems like Wirikuta, home to unique flora and fauna.

Indigenous Sovereignty: Returning land to its original stewards is a vital step toward justice and the recognition of Indigenous rights.

About Getting To The Root

Since 2019, Getting To The Root, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit led by Indigenous women and First Nation Elders, has supported projects restoring balance between humanity and nature. We believe that preserving Indigenous ancestral knowledge is key to environmental regeneration.

Your Contribution Matters:

Every dollar brings us closer to securing this sacred land. By donating, you’re helping to:

Protect ceremonial spaces for the Wixárika people.

Restore sacred hikuri plants in their natural habitat.

Preserve a legacy of environmental and spiritual harmony for all of humanity.

Let’s stand together in solidarity with the Wixárika, ensuring Wirikuta remains a place of prayer, healing, and life for generations to come.

Pamparios! (Thank you!)

We are Getting To The Root, a 501c3 non-profit organization and community since 2019, led by indigenous women and First Nation elders.

At Getting To The Root we are in service to the planet through restorative and regenerative community projects. 

We believe that Indigenous Ancestral knowledge plays a crucial role in preserving the environment. 

Our approach is bringing indigenous voices forward and at the same time empowering the community, by providing spaces for the expansion of consciousness in the re-connection of our roots, indigenous rights activism, ancestral teachings, education, traditional ceremonies, pilgrimages to sacred sites, and the preservation of sacred cultures to share the cosmology that inspires humanity to return to balance.

The purpose of this fundraiser is to raise funds so that Getting To The Root can be stewards of land and have a permanent dwelling to welcome the community and continue with their mission.

Your support will directly contribute towards the initial down payment of land and the development of the land projects.

This project will collaborate with different indigenous, sister traditions at a national and international level including Mexico, Brazil, U.S., Canada, and New Zealand, from which Medicine Carriers, Teachers, and Knowledge Bearers will be invited with the intention to elevate our inner knowledge and remember our sacred connection with our Mother Earth. 

There will also be educational classes/workshops for children, youth, and adults on sacred arts(painting, beading, weaving, feather work, ceramics..)traditional medicine, and ancestral instrument making, as well as the diffusion of Indigenous Ancestral culture through dance and music. The classes will be guided by Indigenous keepers of oral traditions and stories. In this way, our mission creates a consciousness of respect for the preservation of our ancestral practices and transmits the knowledge and cosmology of our ancestors to our future generations.

As stewards of this land, Getting To The Root will have the capacity to provide the following:

•Create a center of Spirituality, Education, Culture, Healing, and Empowerment

•Amplify the voices of Indigenous Ancestry and indigenous based climate action projects and solutions 

•Preservation and teachings of Indigenous practices 

•Educate young generations in ecological sustainability and Mother Earth Preservation

•Offer a series of educational workshops for youth and adults highlighting the spirituality of the Ancestral ways through art, music, storytelling, and traditional dances as well as traditional ways of medicine (sobadas/massage, herbalism, energy-work, plant medicine ceremonies)

•Build permanent classroom buildings for art and traditional medicine

•Build an arbor/natural structure for traditional ceremonies

•Host various Indigenous Leaders, Healers, and Wisdom keepers from around the world 

•Create a permanent art gallery and museum to exhibit indigenous art from communities and families internationally 

•Preservation of indigenous languages, rites of passage, ceremonies, songs

•Conscious Earth Relationship building

•Restorative farming and land tending projects by the people for the people.

The importance of our mission and the impact on our planet:

Traditional Knowledge: Indigenous communities possess generations of ecological knowledge that can inform sustainable practices and biodiversity conservation.

Land Stewardship: Many Indigenous peoples have a deep, spiritual connection to the land, often leading to more sustainable land management practices that benefit ecosystems.

Cultural Heritage: Preserving Indigenous cultures and languages contributes to global diversity and resilience, enriching humanity’s collective understanding of the environment.

Community-Led Solutions: Indigenous-led initiatives often prioritize holistic and community-based approaches, fostering more effective and inclusive environmental solutions.

Rights and Justice: Recognizing Indigenous rights is crucial for addressing historical injustices and empowering communities to advocate for their land and resources.

Climate Adaptation: Indigenous wisdom provides adaptive strategies that have evolved over centuries, essential for responding to climate change impacts.

Biodiversity Protection: Indigenous territories often overlap with areas of high biodiversity; protecting these lands is vital for global conservation efforts.

Mitigation Strategies: Indigenous practices can contribute to carbon sequestration and restoration efforts, playing a role in mitigating climate change.

Collaborative Governance: Involving Indigenous voices in policy-making fosters more equitable and effective governance structures in environmental decision-making.

Holistic Worldviews: Indigenous perspectives often emphasize interconnectedness, which is essential for understanding and addressing complex environmental issues.

Moral Responsibility: Supporting Indigenous communities in their struggles for rights and preservation aligns with broader ethical imperatives for justice and equality.

Youth Engagement: Empowering Indigenous youth through education and advocacy can ensure the continuation of traditional practices and wisdom for future generations.

Integrating Indigenous voices and perspectives into climate justice actions not only enriches strategies but also fosters a more equitable and inclusive approach to environmental stewardship.

**If you want to make a donation outside of gofundme and receive a tax deduction please email [email redacted]

Thank you to all who are donating and sharing this campaign. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

“All things are connected. Whatever befalls the Earth, befalls the children of the Earth.”

-Chief Seattle