My family moved away from Juchitan in the 80´s as they saw no food or health security. My grandfather learned his native tongue Zapotec in Mexico CIty. By doing this I believe he reconnected with his culture and his people through language. He continued to actively protect his language and culture since then and left behind a collection of poems written in Zapotec.
The following series of photographs were taken during my visit to Juchitan, Oaxaca in July, 2018. Less than a year after a devastating earthquake hit the indigenous Zapotec communities and towns that surround Juchitan. On my visit, there was a deep realization within me that we aren´t doing enough to protect indigenous knowledge, culture and ways of life.