- Title: Mexican folk dancers on show for World's Indigenous Peoples Day
- Date: 9th August 2021
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEMBER OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF MEXICO MOVEMENT, ABRAHAM GIRON, SAYING: "The reason for this event is to make the indigenous presence in Mexico City visible, for our rights to be recognised by the Mexico City government. That is the reason, to make us visible. For 12 years now we have been making ourselves visible annually with this event. Now we are going to dance, there will be poetry, gastronomy."
- Embargoed: 23rd August 2021 23:39
- Keywords: International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples Mexico Mexico City folk dancing
- Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: South America / Central America,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA002EPK41FR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Mexico's indigenous communities descended on the capital's Zocalo square on Monday (August 9) to mark the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
According to Mexico's census bureau, there are some 17 million indigenous citizens in the country from over 70 distinct indigenous peoples, making it the largest population of indigenous people in the Americas.
And the diversity of Mexico's indigenous peoples was on show in the capital on the Monday. Wearing devil masks, folk dancers performed the Dance of the Devils, a dance that originated from Mexico's south. Its movements reportedly symbolise the escape of African slaves from the Spanish
Another group of folk dancers performed the 'Chinelos', with their distinctive white masks and extravagant costumes said to be a parody on the complexion and appearance of Spanish colonisers.
Although Mexico has adopted the United Nations Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the country's indigenous peoples are among its most vulnerable.
According to CONEVAL, Mexico's National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy, nearly 70% of the indigenous population lives in poverty.
(Production: Alberto Fajardo, Paul Vieira) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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