Erika Sebastián Aguilar, an Indigenous Nahua woman from Mexico’s San Miguel Tecuiciapan, has borne the brunt of cultural erasure all her life. Her identity has been challenged and misrepresented often, furthering her perseverance. On February 21st, during International Mother Language Day, Aguilar described how local authorities “not only refused to participate, but also did not provide the space or speakers for the event.” In spite of these crushing circumstances, Aguilar’s Indigenous Náhuatl community forged onward through a self-organized celebration of identity.
For Indigenous populations globally, experiences such as Aguilar’s are commonplace. Authentic Indigenous stories are resilient yet seldom receive the recognition their richness deserves.
Modern-day knowledge regarding world history, particularly regarding marginalized communities, has been chronically deficient. Textbook readings implemented in classroom settings allot insufficient space, if any, to inform about global Indigenous populations. Adding to markedly inadequate representation, the world’s native communities are still improperly perceived in colonialist contexts.
The widespread and entrenched misunderstanding of existing Indigenous populations has led to the detriment of communities near and far. Consequently, such injustices are being tackled in light of realizing the irreplaceability of Indigenous identity.
Shmuel Tamo, the Executive Director of Indigenous Roots Productions (IRP), an organization amplifying ancient heritage through highlighting Indigenous communities, has gone to great lengths to ensure that Indigeneity thrives. Tamo’s own experiences as an Assyrian, an ethnic group native to Mesopotamia, impelled him to document oral history research in collaborative film productions with Indigenous communities such as Assyrian diaspora members in Chicago and Nahuas in San Miguel Tecuiciapan. IRP’s work has shed light on perspectives history textbooks have repeatedly fallen short of.
For Rabel Betshmuel, an Assyrian artist and designer from Chicago, Tamo’s intervention in documenting the Assyrian community was nothing short of a blessing. Rabel found a deep connection with using “the word ‘Indigenous’ in such a way that it has a broader meaning,” extending far beyond the barriers of nationality. By the same token, Rabel experienced challenges in fully conveying his Indigenous story, saying that IRP’s inquiries were “very poignant, in a sense that you really have to think about them.” Rabel’s insight regarding IRP’s questions supports the organization’s commitment to comprehensive research that gives power back to Indigenous folks.
Shibla Betshmuel, another narrator in IRP’s inaugural oral history research, appreciates that IRP’s work stretches far beyond any one Indigenous community, as he feels Indigenous preservation globally is of paramount importance. When asked about ensuring Indigenous cultures endure, Shibla responded, saying, “Preserving our narratives is an act of resistance
against cultural erasure and assimilation.” In recognizing the frequently skewed portrayals of global native communities, Shibla went on to note that said narratives “are also essential for ensuring that our history is told accurately and from our perspective, not from other people’s perspectives.”
In sharing the complexities of Indigenous identity with the world at large, Indigenous communities stress the importance of melding their cultural background with social interactions. Consciously channeling one’s authentic Indigenous identity is something Erika Sebastián Aguilar champions as well. For Aguilar, being a Nahua woman “is [her] own way of feeling, understanding, and inhabiting the world.” Additionally, Aguilar has consciously worked to fortify her Nahua identity through creating relationships with fellow Nahua “women and [her] community, always interwoven with spirituality, and, above all, [the Náhuatl] language.”
Aguilar’s cousin Antonina voices a similar sentiment regarding the necessity of Indigenous preservation. When asked about maintaining legacies passed down from Indigenous elders, Antonina underscored preservation “because this way the thoughts and words of my grandparents, even mine, will continue to exist.”
Due to centuries of perpetual disregard for Indigenous identities, apprehension regarding storytelling is a valid concern among the globe’s native peoples. Understanding this ages-old Indigenous struggle profoundly, Tamo’s efforts at IRP aim to not merely interview native folks, but rather, to facilitate the self-empowerment of communities working in partnership to ensure their legacies flourish. Erika Sebastián Aguilar’s sister, Alfonsa, echoed IRP’s great attention to documenting all aspects of everyday Indigenous life, saying, “I was surprised that Sam [Shmuel] and Liz [Espíritu’s co-producer] adapted, while I cooked, I made an offering, and even in the milpa they accompanied us. It was very nice to share with them.”
Although Indigenous communities revere their robust history, their identities are largely impacted by modern influences. Rabel Betshmuel’s artistry and connection to his Assyrian identity have overlapped with the latter pertaining to social media. In expressing his hopes for IRP’s future, Rabel encouraged IRP to “really collaborate and connect with like-minded individuals.” Elaborating on this idea, Rabel explained that platforms like Instagram are a “really cool place for a younger generation…leaning towards a more liberal mindset– I think IRP can reel those folks in after finding them.”
Indigenous storytelling has never been more pertinent. Erika Sebastián Aguilar solidified the indelible contribution IRP’s work has had on her life, saying that it has been “fundamental in recovering our voices, interweaving words intergenerationally, and leaving a testament to our experiences in the present, ensuring that our history endures.”
The scope of Indigeneity should not be confined to pre-existing narratives. History textbooks often fall short in exploring the depth of Indigeneity and the diversity of Indigenous experiences.
The world’s oldest civilizations cannot afford for future generations to abandon their invaluable beauty. Indigeneity can not, and should not, dwindle into a vacuum. According to the Journal of American Indian Education, misrepresented Native children feel “disengaged” and “alienated,” undermining Indigenous existence. By catalyzing the self-empowerment of Indigenous groups, millennia-old legacies will endure forever.
Consciously empowering the next generation of Indigenous torchbearers to amplify their elders’ legacies and their own evolution is not only critical, but also a solemn duty.
