Living with the Cadence of the Earth (Xiye Bastida)

Quick Overview

Xiye Bastida attributes her approach to climate advocacy to her upbringing in the indigenous Otomi community in Mexico, where she was taught to connect with and listen to the earth, emphasizing stewardship over ego-driven helping, and she experienced firsthand the devastating impact of pollution and extreme weather when her community was inundated by the polluted El Rio Lerma.

Key Points: Bastida was raised with the rich wisdom of her ancestors, focusing on how to connect with the earth, listen to it, and ask for permission and guidance. She utilizes sacred spaces like the teascal (sweat lodge), which represents the womb of the earth, for rebirth and clarity, and Shinante Catal volcano for energetic guidance. Stepping into guardianship and stewardship means the ego of 'I'm helping the world' disappears because it is a responsibility to live closer to the cadence of the earth. Her community in San Pedro Tapeek was impacted when drought was followed by extreme flooding from the highly polluted El Rio Lerma, which turned from a source of life to a place of death in one generation. The flooding brought river pollutants, including high levels of lead, into their town, raising concerns about sicknesses, skin rashes, and developmental issues in children, leading her to understand her community as a 'sacrifice zone'. Her dream is for the river to be clean so that if heavy rain comes again, the community will not be scared of the water. The local ecosystem includes Laenega, a large wetland where they harvest 'tulle' grass for weaving, and they honor the 'mother of the water,' a mermaid whose spirit is tied to the wetland's life.

Context: Xiye Bastida discusses how her cultural background as a member of the indigenous Otomi community in Mexico shaped her climate activism. She contrasts the pain often associated with colonization in indigenous communities with her own experience, where healing allowed her to focus on the rich wisdom and traditions passed down by her ancestors regarding connection to the natural world. This upbringing provided her with a framework of stewardship that directly informs her advocacy work.