Binational Center For The Development of Oaxacan Indigenous Communities

Description

The Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo Indígena Oaxaqueño, (CBDIO)was created in 1993 by Frente Indígena de Organizaciones Binacionales (FIOB) to serve the indigenous migrant communities from Mexico that reside in California, United States (US). Different sources affirm that there are more than two hundred thousand indigenous from Mexico residing in the US. Of the more than 60 different indigenous communities that remain alive in Mexico, the following are the ones with the largest representation in California: Mixtecs (from the state of Oaxaca and Guerrero), Zapotecs, Triquis, Chatinos, Chinantecos and Mixes (from the state of Oaxaca) and P’uhrépechas (from Michoacan). Each of these indigenous communities have their own language and culture that differentiate them from one another, however all indigenous people faced similar problems in the hometowns from which we have migrated.

Since its foundation as a non-profit entity CBDIO has been dedicated to implement projects on worker’s rights which provide orientation, education, training, counseling and referrals. The organization has also promoted the intensive training on professional ethics of indigenous interpreters, so that they can serve as a medium of communication between monolingual indigenous migrants and various government institutions. Likewise, CBDIO has also worked to increase the participation of indigenous women in the life of the migrant community, by providing training in and promotion of gender equality, so that they may exercise self-determination in their civic lives. CBDIO also promotes health education on prevention and treatment of different illnesses; it facilitates the access to health and social services and helps the indigenous migrants learn how to make changes to improve the living conditions of the communities where they reside.