Xitlaly Olivera Social Science
The Consequences of Mineral Extraction on Indigenous Communities in Oaxaca, Mexico
The process of mining gold has been proven to have detrimental effects on the environment. As foreign investment towards gold mining increases in Oaxaca, Indigenous people are left to face the long-term consequences of mineral extraction. Indigenous foodways are sacred, as food remains central to the reproduction of Indigenous culture. Xitlaly’s research focuses on the impact of ecological degradation, as a result of gold mining, on Indigenous food systems and potential cultural loss in Oaxaca, Mexico. Her research will entail a collection of interviews from local Indigenous peoples in Los Valles Centrales where she will share her findings through the creation of a podcast. Her research is supplemental to the existing Indigenous resistance movement against foreign gold mining and the fight for Indigenous sovereignty.
