The Federal Government Has Allocated More Than 55 Billion Pesos to Indigenous Peoples

This article by La Redacción originally appeared in the June 21, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

The federal government has invested more than 55 billion pesos for the implementation of 21 justice and regional development plans for indigenous peoples, benefiting more than 3,000 communities of 34 peoples, in addition to 318 Afro-Mexican populations in various states.

According to the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples, these strategies address issues related to lands, territory, water, infrastructure, education, health, cultural heritage, strengthening of indigenous languages, self-government and common well-being.

In a tally, it mentions that seven presidential decrees have been issued for the restitution, recognition and titling of more than 12,222 hectares of land as traditional communal property to the Yaqui, Rarámuri, Ódami and Wixárika peoples.

Likewise, around 20 billion pesos have been invested in the construction of 432 handcrafted roads, and 6 billion more are projected for this year.

Starting in 2025, resources are allocated directly to native communities through the Social Infrastructure Contributions Fund, which represented 12.374 billion pesos benefiting 20,358 indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities and localities of 70 peoples in 28 states. This year, the amount increased to 13.506 billion pesos for 19,718 communities.

There is also the Indigenous Education Support Program to guarantee education, food and school retention for children, adolescents and youth. In 2025 there was a network of 1,423 houses and dining halls distributed across 23 states, and this year it is planned to expand the latter with 41 more.

One of the bets is to rescue indigenous languages, particularly those at high risk of disappearing. With an investment of 125 million pesos, work will be carried out in 24 states with 64 languages and 71 linguistic variants belonging to 55 native peoples.