When the corona virus pandemic hit, indigenous peoples around the world began organizing a response that centered their community’s spiritual and physical well-being. For Ka Kuxtal Much Meyaj, native seeds grounded their response.

Protecting the Community with Traditional Medicine

Supported by funding from the Seed, Soil & Culture Fund of RSF Social Finance, CAN and Ka Kuxtal have been collaborating to revitalize the milpa—a 9000-year-old Maya farming system. Last year, this resulted in 100 hectares of milpa planted with native corn, beans, squash, and nutrient-rich greens. The harvest brought food, medicinal plants, and more seeds, creating a cache of native seeds cared for by the community. When the COVID-19 lockdown took place in Mexico, folks in Los Chenes, a rural area that lacks adequate health care, knew they had to take action. Ka Kuxtal activated its communication network, gathered recipes for traditional medicines, and created a guide for community care.

Safeguarding the Community’s Food Supply

As the medicinal plant guide began circulating throughout Los Chenes and other communities, farmers were busy preparing the soil and planting seed for the coming rains. This year’s milpa planting came from native seeds saved by the community. The milpa promised food throughout an economic downturn and medicinal plants to fortify immune systems. But on June 3rd, tropical storm Cristobal flooded Los Chenes, taking newly germinated seeds with it.
Again, youth began networking. They reported on the destruction of milpas, and identified homes where native seeds stores had survived. As the floodwaters receded, Ka Kuxtal coordinated distribution of native seed to the families that had lost their milpa

Towards a Stronger Future Together

The milpa harvest ended last month. Families have stored beans and corn, until the next harvest. They continue to strengthen their food system, and are cultivating a vision for culturally-appropriate health care. Ka Kuxtal, CAN, and the communities of Los Chenes will be inaugurating an integrative health center based in Maya cosmovision while combining western and indigenous approaches to health care. Construction is underway. When completed, it will be powered by the people who have known for millennia that working the land and eating well is all good medicine.