Asentamientos Tarahumares AC

An Special Overview for West Point Class of 1955

Chihuahua, Mexico. September of 2010

Sustainable Life with Dignity for the Tarahumaras

Providing the Tarahumara Native Indians with good living conditions, education and job opportunities.

“Helping the Tarahumara’s with love and understanding to free them from the discrimination and exploitation they suffer has an important social

impact.”

“We have the option with our actions to give the Tarahumaras the opportunity to Live the Kingdom of

God on Earth Today.”

Father Oscar Raynal, September of 2010

About the TarahumarasAbout the Tarahumaras

The “Rarámuri” or Tarahumara are an indigenous people of northern Mexico.

Original inhabitants of most of the state of Chihuahua, the Tarahumaras were forced by the Spanish conquerors during the XVI century to retreat to the high sierra mountain of Chihuahua, now called Sierra Tarahumara or Copper Canyon.

Through centuries, socio-economic growth has generated strong social disparity

between “Chihuahua City-People” and the “Tarahumara People”.

The Tarahumaras have been discriminated and forced to retreat to the high mountains living in

isolation. Now they have been forced to migrate to the city where they are even in a more desperate need of help and compassion.

The Tarahumaras: People in Desperate Need of Help

The Tarahumaras: Fascinating Culture, Traditions, Language

In the past the Tarahumara were known to hunt deer on foot, chasing them until the deer tired and could be felled. The name Rarámuri means

"foot-runner," and the people still live up to their name, expertly maneuvering the twisted terrain of the Sierra Madre.

The Tarahumaras:Ancient Culture, Spiritual, Strong Family and Community Values

Tarahumaras in the high mountain sierra live in caves or in fragile cabins made of wood and stone.

The Tarahumara population is of approximately

50,000 to 70,000 people

(INEGI , 2006)

They all speak their native Tarahumara Language …some speak Spanish

At the High Sierra, they harvest corn and bean; some Tarahumaras still grow cattle and sheep. Nonetheless, in very Nonetheless, in very poor and limited conditions, so poor they are not sufficient poor and limited conditions, so poor they are not sufficient

to cover their basic needs.to cover their basic needs.

How Tarahumaras Survive in Chihuahua CityHow Tarahumaras Survive in Chihuahua City

Most of them survive with no basic living services:• No Water, No Electricity, No Gas.• Neither Health nor Public Safety Services.• Housing with dirt floors made with pieces of foil and cardboard.

Surviving with less than $2 USD per day, this is classified as extreme poverty by United Nations standards.

Despite Despite Tarahumaras Tarahumaras

Strong Strong Willingness to Willingness to

ImproveImprove

They have no alternative but to migrate to the city:They have no alternative but to migrate to the city:• Lack of possibilities to provide their families with Lack of possibilities to provide their families with

food or shelter at the Sierra. food or shelter at the Sierra. • Hoping to improve their children’s education and Hoping to improve their children’s education and

future.future.• Because of Health or Safety Issues.Because of Health or Safety Issues.

Only 10% pursue Only 10% pursue middle school middle school

because of because of their their need to need to

work to survivework to survive

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• It is estimated that over 1,000 It is estimated that over 1,000 Tarahumara families (5,000 people) Tarahumara families (5,000 people) live in Chihuahua City distributed in live in Chihuahua City distributed in over 100 irregular settlements, over 100 irregular settlements, without water, electricity, gas, without water, electricity, gas, public health and basic safety public health and basic safety services.services.

Current “living” Current “living” conditions …conditions …

We can change their life …

From living without dignity…

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To LIVE in a clean, safe, drug free, and healthy To LIVE in a clean, safe, drug free, and healthy environment where their children can develop environment where their children can develop their full potential, living happy and with their full potential, living happy and with DIGNITY.DIGNITY.

Safe to Play, Pray, Safe to Play, Pray, Learn and Grow! Learn and Grow!

We currently help more than 100 families (500 people), but we have only reached less than 10% of the

Tarahumaras in desperate need of our help

Living with DignityLiving with Dignity

Living with Dignity . . .

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Community Center

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Fully Furnished Homes with:

 

•Refrigerator

•Rest room

•Kitchen appliances

•Twin beds

•Boiler

•Fan

Full Full DevelopmenDevelopment Plan t Plan Including:Including:

Housing Housing FoodFood HealthHealth JobsJobs EducationEducation SportsSports CultureCulture Spiritual Spiritual

DevelopmenDevelopmentt

Empowering them to become self-sufficient, Empowering them to become self-sufficient, notnot just fulfilling their immediate needs just fulfilling their immediate needs

New generations of Tarahumaras living with dignity, education, health, sports and spiritual strength.

Your help is needed to fund our ongoing efforts, and to expand our support to the

Tarahumara families living in Chihuahua City

Drivers for Sustainable Empowerment of the Tarahumaras to Live with Dignity

Your initial sponsorship made this dream a reality today, and now with your help we can achieve sustainable growth!

Furnished HomesFurnished HomesOne fully furnished home is provided per family with kitchen furniture, refrigerator, stove, dining table & chairs, rest room fixtures, beds, and closets.

Tarahumara traditions dance and music are respected, nurturing their spirituality through weekly mass and other religious celebrations done according to their traditions.

Preserving Their Culture

Nurturing Spirituality

Preserving Their Culture

Nurturing Spirituality

Education & SportsEducation & SportsSchool is mandatory for all children. Education is promoted and available for everyone, including Spanish lessons, computer classes, and job placement basic skills.

Hygiene Habits, &

Basic Health Services

Hygiene Habits, &

Basic Health Services

Good hygiene practices to promote a healthy environment Basic health care services are provided. Along with recreational playground to promote sports.

Job PlacementJob PlacementBasic job skills training and job placement aid is provided.Traditional hand craft articles are made by the Tarahumara residents, along with commercialization & promotional help.

Discipline &

Rules Of Engagement

Discipline &

Rules Of Engagement

One Tarahumara Governor and one ATA Lead Volunteer live in the complex to enforce Children’s education, Hygiene & Health, No Alcohol, No Drugs, No Begging in the Streets

YOUR Contribution Will Help Tarahumaras to LIVE with

DignityNow and for Future

Generations!!!

Your initial sponsorship made this Your initial sponsorship made this DREAMDREAM a a REALITYREALITY today, today,

and now with your help we can and now with your help we can achieve sustainable growth!achieve sustainable growth!

Thank You !!!Thank You !!!