Know the association
Empowering the Wixárika community through a non-profit Civil Association for Responsible Property Ownership
What is it?
The Civil Association “Yurienaka Parewiwame, A.C.” (YuPa) is a non-profit organization whose corporate purpose is to empower the entire Wixarika community to carry out projects that enable its bio-cultural preservation and build a sustainable infrastructure to strengthen its community in an equitable manner—for the benefit of humanity and to serve our Mother Earth.
YuPa, which means “Help Mother Earth,” establishes the legal and operational basis of the organization, whose main purpose is to empower the Wixarika indigenous community of Mexico. Fundamental principles include the protection of human rights, ecological and economic sustainability, and cultural preservation.
The Civil Association promotes transparency, accountability, and the inclusion of all community members, especially women, in its organizational structure.
Fundamental laws
They define the purpose, principles, and objectives of the Organization. They are the essence that guides our path and can only be modified by the members of the Board once a year, at the annual meeting, and confirmed by the community assembly.
Our Fundamental Laws include:
- The purpose of empowering the entire Wixárika community - San Andrés Cohamiata, Santa Catarina Cuexcomatitlán, San Sebastián Teponahuaxtlán, and its annex Tuxpan de Bolaños.
- Projects that ensure the preservation of biocultural knowledge.
- The construction of sustainable infrastructure that strengthens the community in an equitable manner.
- Contributing to the benefit of humanity and the service of our Mother Earth.
The statutes
They incorporate key indicators for evaluating success, define forms of communication, decision-making processes, and the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved. They can be adapted and developed more easily.
Our Statutes include:
- Projects that share experiences and lessons learned, contributing to fundamental lawas.
- A growing network of national and international collaborators.
- Ongoing networks: internal communication, platforms, communities, public relations, and cooperation with NGOs.
- Financial sustainability: maintaining a positive balance and developing new projects with our own income.
The sacred lands and ancestral knowledge of the Wixarika, without interference from outside interests. The foundation plans to implement several projects ranging from the creation of a legal entity to ensure the proper use of funds to the professional distribution of traditional art to generate income. Other projects include the development of water and solar energy infrastructure to improve the community's living conditions.
Steward Ownership
Our uniqueness lies in being founded under the principles of Steward Ownership, a legal model that protects the organization from personal interests and guarantees that its purpose is always in service of the community. This ensures that no benefit is privatized and that all resources are reinvested into the common good and Mother Earth.
Under the leadership of community members and external facilitators, a governance design has been defined that promotes self-determination and purpose-driven decision-making. The organization seeks to guarantee that all its activities and resources exclusively benefit the community, ensuring transparency and sustainability in all its actions.
This Association reflects a deep commitment to autonomy and sustainable development, focusing on practices that respect and preserve its rich cultural heritage and natural environment, so that the Wixárikas can live from their culture, in their own territory, without having to depend on external influences.
Why a responsible property?
Through Steward Ownership, we seek to ensure that the organization (and any other entities that may need to be established for related projects) serve exclusively the sustainable and equitable growth of all Wixárika communities.
Self-determination: Control remains with members of the community involved in the projects carried out by the organization, while ensuring independence from individual interests and transparency toward all stakeholders (particularly the Community Assembly and, in the early stages, the Executive Council).
Purpose orientation: All profits are reinvested in the organization and its projects for the benefit of the Wixarika Community and Mother Earth. In the event of liquidation, all rights and properties will be transferred in equal parts to the Wixarika communities.
Simplicity to start with: The aim is to start with a simple, non-profit organization that can receive the first donations to get the project off the ground. The lawyers recommended using the non-profit association vehicle.
Flexibility to evolve: Flexibility is sought in the structure so that, as the organization grows and develops projects, its governance and ownership can become more complex and robust, while remaining consistent with the principles of responsible ownership.
Contact
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