Around 25 women gathered at the municipal hall of San Dionisio del Mar on May 13, with the intention of gaining more knowledge about the medicinal plants that are part of their community, their valueS, and their properties.
Rosalva Fuentes, a land and territory defender from Unión Hidalgo, led this workshop with the women. It was the first in a series of activities aimed at revaluing the medicinal plants found in San Dionisio del Mar.
Getting to know and valuing what we have in our communities is a fundamental part of defending our land and territory — because what is not known is not cared for, and what is not cared for is not defended, they remarked among themselves. It’s worth remembering that in 2012, the community successfully expelled the company Mareña Renovables, which sought to install a wind farm in Barra Santa Teresa — an action that would have harmed the way of life of local residents.
Another key interest of the women is to learn about plants in order to care for their loved ones at home with wounds, fevers, or pain. “…there are many plants in our community, but we don’t know how to use them—we must value what we have,” another woman suggested.
They also mentioned that the lack of knowledge has led to the disappearance of some plants and trees, such as the morro tree, which grows like “weeds” outside houses and is often uprooted. This has caused it to become scarce, despite being a great ally for treating coughs and respiratory issues when made into syrup.
Finally, Rosalva emphasized: “We are here because we want to live healthy lives, and for that, we need our allies — the medicinal plants.”
Gathering as women is important — sharing our knowledge and wisdom, valuing it, and collectivizing it — is necessary to continue building community and a good life.