Cherán

In progress

In 2011, the P'urhépecha town of Cherán (in Mexico) kicked out police, politicians, cartels, and unauthorized loggers. Since then, residents have horizontally self-governed while protecting their community and forest based on the principle of kuájpekurhikua, meaning "taking care of the territory."

Culture

The ongoing uprising aims to revitalize P'urhépecha traditions and language and to empower all residents including women, youth, elders, and LGBTQ individuals. In 2015, a Women's Council and Youth Council were incorporated into the communal government.

In its own words, the Women's Council aims to improve "the quality of life for the women of Cherán and their families. To reduce inequality, gender-based violence, sex discrimination, and for full integration into the community." The council organizes lectures, workshops, and gatherings. In 2018, it established the Women's House which, according to María de la Luz, seeks "to recover the wisdom of the grandmothers and work with traditional medicine. We have an organic garden and soon will form a women's cooperative."

The Youth Council organizes cultural spaces and events as well as school workshops on topics including literature, rap, and preventing addiction. It also works together with the town's 3 youth-run media projects: Radio Fogata, TV Cherán, and Fogata Kejtsitani.

The Council of the Elders is a sort of moral authority for the town. They keep alive the memory of communal traditions and revolutionary values. They also offer advice to the councils and assemblies. The council has to include at least one woman from each of Cherán's four neighborhoods.

Various residents remembers told Scott Campbell that the LGBTQ community "is viewed as an integral part of Cherán and has had members named to positions in the government."

Decisions

Decisions are made by consensus at the block, neighborhood, and community assemblies. Councils don't have decision-making power but administer the decisions made at assemblies.

At the most local level, there's the block assembly called a bonfire even though there's no longer a physical fire. During 2011's rebellion, residents of each block gathered around the nightly bonfire and made group decisions. These blocks still maintain regular assemblies which make decisions by consensus Once a week, members of the different blocks gather for their neighborhood assembly. Each of Cherán's four neighborhoods has a neighborhood assembly.

Occasionally, one of the neighborhoods or the Council of Elders will convene a community assembly to make decisions involving the entire town.

Every three years, the assemblies elect members to the town's councils. Council members can be removed at any time, and they can't be reelected after their term is over. They are paid very little, just enough to . Councils include:

• The Neighborhood Coordinating Council facilitates communication between neighborhood assemblies and the various councils.

• The Local Administrative Council oversees public works, including lights, gardens, and waste management.

• The Civic Affairs Council oversees education, public health, and cultural programs.

• The Peace and Justice Council convenes communal patrols and remediation programs.

• The Council of Elders acts as a moral authority and crafts a development plan and present it to the community assembly for consideration.

• The Youth Council creates cultural spaces, events, and workshops for youth.

• The Women's Council organizes events and projects promoting women's rights and communal well-being.

• The

Revolution

On 15 April 2011, women armed with sticks and Moltov cocktails blocked a logging truck and took five loggers hostage. They were sick of the logging companies and cartels destroying their communal forests.