[Huichol is pronounced “Wee-chole”.] These humble but proud people live today in a culture
of transition. Meaning, our high impact, high-stress culture and a silver mine
development is having a major effect on the
Huichol. In some areas of their territory, small groups are holding onto their
traditions. Others, more vulnerable, have
already succumbed to ‘progress’.
At one time not long ago, the Huichol embodied
a beautiful way of life that was protected by their relative isolation and a
strong lack of desire to mix with the Spanish, Mexicans or, until recently,
North Americans and Europeans. They
avoided contact, even if it meant having to leave their usual places and hide
in unknown territory. You could say the Huichol have been invaded by contemporary
conquistadores, all the more ironic
since they were amongst the very few who eluded the original conquistadores centuries ago.
Today there
are not many pre-Columbian living cultures intact for all to see, as that of
the Huichol Indians. It’s no surprise they are
on the brink of losing what was and is so dear to them. Especially now with a mining
project threatening their sacred, ceremonial lands. Click here to visit “Salvemos
Wirikuta” (“Save Wirikuta). Because
of this situation, once again the Human Family on this planet is about to lose
an invaluable link to our ancient collective past. The Huichol people are one
of few ancient cultures maintaining their tradition for centuries up until the
present time. Their way of life is rich with symbolism and mythology. They revere everything in Nature.
"Kauyumari Comes Home", by Jose Benitez Sanchez
The Huichol
have been called a ‘culture of doctors’, for no less than one-third of the men
are shaman / healers. For us that would mean
out of 100 people, 33 would be doctors. Each year they go on pilgrimage to the
land of the Peyote cacti, “Wirikuta”. They walk over 350 kilometers in twenty days
to San Luis Potosi, where the magic peyote is taken in a ceremony under the
guidance of the Shaman. This annual pilgrimage keeps their legends and myths
alive. There is also an annual
pilgrimage to Lake Chapala, where the shaman tell the story of “The Tree That Rains”. They keep this Flood Myth (like so many cultures
have, such as Noah’s Ark), alive. 
It’s through their yarn paintings and intricate beadwork
the Huichol tell their stories best.
This highly symbolic form of expression reflects their religious beliefs
and vivid connection with Nature. Some of these yarn paintings seem to ‘flow’ like real paint. The coloured strands of yarn are
painstakingly pressed onto beeswax-covered plywood, transforming cotton or wool
to a never-never land. One of the
Huichol masters of yarn painting was Jose
Benitez Sanchez. A dignified and proud Shaman, (the Huichol had no word for
“art” or “artist”), he went ‘over the horizon’ four years ago.
Standing in front of one of these works by Jose Benitez Sanchez, realizing human
fingers have gently pushed these strands of yarn into the beeswax-covered
plywood, is an awesome revelation. The strands are applied so closely together,
there is no space between them. From
a distance the works look like a ‘painted’ painting. It puts shivers down my spine. It was an
honour for me to have met Juan Benitez
Sanchez long before he became famous. Someone must have recognized the
quality of these yarn paintings, because
they can now be seen in museums all over the world. Click here for more
information about Juan Benitez Sanchez and works by other Huichol masters to see examples of their work.
"Our Elder Brother's Kauyumari's Nierika", Jose Benitez Sanchez
Henri van Bentum