Armed Conflict - Military repression

Racism and Inequalities - Lack of access to Education and Jobs, Health centers / hospitals

Patriarchal System

1. You have to watch a documentary on Netflix titled The Spokeswoman. — DONE

2. After watching the documentary use the following questions as a guide to your reflective
essay. The questions are as follows;

a. What are the struggles of the different indigenous people shown in the documentary?

● Armed Conflict

In the movie, we can observe that military repression is one of the main problems of the
indigenous people. As the movie goes on, there is a scene wherein one of the sons of an
Indigenous activist mother was shot to death for unjust reasons by the military, considering
that the victim was just a teenager. The government uses what we call the "Iron Hand" for
them to benefit from the natural resources of the Indigenous People, disregarding their rights
and inflicting fear in the minds of the IPs so that they can do nothing when the government
wants to exploit and benefit from their lands. Every year, the lives of activists campaigning for
the indigenous people's right to autonomy and liberty are endangered by narcotraffickers,
politicians, transnational mining companies, and, often, the collaboration of all three since they
kill those people who are helping the oppressed indigenous communities.

● Racism and Inequalities - Lack of access to Education and Jobs, Health centers / hospitals

There was a scene in the movie whereby Marichuy announced her candidacy in the running for
president; once it was posted on social media, people made fun of Marichuy’s appearance and
ethnicity. Netizens said she wasn’t a role model for the presidency as she looked like a maid
and asserted that she’s uneducated IP. This shows how racism is rampant in Mexico. However,
appearance does not justify the capabilities of a person in a government position, and they still
say anything they want for them to fulfill their ego about their race’s superiority.

When talking about Inequalities, there was a lack of access in hospitals since the government
doesn’t prioritize the needs of Indigenous People. Marichuy has seen this aspect, and her
solution was to be a Traditional healer for almost 20 years in her hometown for her fellow
indigenous peoples. Insufficient job opportunities were also a problem in the movie. When the
registration for voting started, people in communities had no jobs. Thus they don’t have money
to buy the latest smartphone or tablet that would benefit them as a medium to record their
vote and register their identity. In fact, according to the movie, some of the indigenous
communities contributed all of their money to buy one of such mediums to have hope in
Marichuy’s presidency that she would help them strengthen their identities and rights as
Indigenous Peoples.

● Patriarchal System

Patriarchy has always been a profound ideology in Indigenous Tribes. Men always make the
decision as their voices only matter. Women have no role in deciding their part in the
community is to plant, harvest, cook, and take care of the children. There is also a notion
wherein education is not prioritized for women because they don't have to be educated since
most of their work is cultivating lands and house choirs. This is the sole reason why the
Zapatista National Liberation Army and Mexican Indigenous Governance Council chose
Marichuy as an independent presidential candidate. She was the first Indigenous Woman to run
for president, as it aimed to abolish the stigma and gender discrimination in Indigenous Tribes
wherein Men are always superior, and women are voiceless and disregarded.

On the other hand, no one in the film is portrayed as a victim. The people seen in the movie are
organizing to fight back against the irregularities they are experiencing, especially with the
government. It is not just Marichuy who fights and hopes for a better future; it's a movement
for survival. All Indigenous people from Mexico fight for their rights and liberty from the
oppression of the military and government.

—
b. What are the rights of the indigenous communities being violated to the documentary. (Use
the UNDRIP as reference, cite the article)

There are numerous rights of the Indigenous people were violated in the movie, these are:

Article 2 - Indigenous peoples and individuals are free and equal to all other peoples and
individuals and have the right to be free from any kind of discrimination, in the exercise of their
rights, in particular, that based on their indigenous origin or identity.

- A

Article 3 - Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right they
freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural
development.

- As the Indigenous people were repressed by the military, they were compelled to leave
their ancestral lands to be free from coercion. Government has no concrete plan for
their resettlement. As a consequence, they cannot practice their ideologies and
traditions as their cultural identity to flourish.
Article 5 - Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinct political,
legal, economic, social, and cultural institutions, while retaining their right to participate fully, if
they so choose, in the political, economic, social, and cultural life of the State.

- The violation of this article was shown in the movie when Marichuy announced her
candidacy for President, citizens of the internet discriminated against her as she looked
like a maid, and an ironic comment wherein it was stated that she was “excellent” at
cleaning jobs.

Article 7
1. Indigenous individuals have the rights to life, physical and mental integrity, liberty, and
security of person.

2. Indigenous peoples have the collective right to live in freedom, peace, and security as distinct
peoples and shall not be subjected to any act of genocide or any other act of violence, including
forcibly removing children of the group to another group.

Article 8
1. Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right not to be subjected to forced assimilation
or destruction of their culture.
2. States shall provide effective mechanisms for prevention of, and redress for:

(a) Any action which has the aim or effect of depriving them of their integrity as distinct
peoples, or of their cultural values or ethnic identities;
(b) Any action which has the aim or effect of dispossessing them of their lands, territories or
resources;
(c) Any form of forced population transfer which has the aim or effect of violating or
undermining any of their rights;
(d) Any form of forced assimilation or integration;
(e) Any form of propaganda designed to promote or incite racial or ethnic discrimination
directed against them.

Article 10 - Indigenous peoples shall not be forcibly removed from their lands or territories. No
relocation shall take place without the free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous
peoples concerned and after agreement on just and fair compensation and, where possible,
with the option of return.
c. If you are the main character in the documentary, what should you do to win?

If I were the main character in the documentary, I would prioritize my image to the public,
which is that I am a skilled and competent leader who will guide the nation to prosperity. Since
other candidates will try their best to win the election, I will maximize my potential and surpass
my limit. I'll be the role model of a good leader in society. Knowing the meaning of the word
"Leader" is essential since the leader makes the major decisions that affect his vicinity. As we
can observe in the movie, Marichuy effectively influenced the other Indigenous Communities in
Mexico. She explored the tribes that were not noticed in the past years, and she gave the
women in the Indigenous community to have an identity and participation in nation-building.
This was a good move for Marichuy, as she advocated the rights and equalities of women in the
community as the Patriarchal System was firmly adhered to by the Indigenous Peoples. I could
say that her strategies are efficient. Still, it is not enough, as the required registered number of
nearly a million people for her to be an independent candidate in the presidential race was not
met. The following are my strategy method to gather enough votes and win the election:

(1) I would disseminate my credentials about my educational achievement, experience in

civic consciousness, and helping the impoverished. This would give profound knowledge
to the electorates about myself as a Presidential candidate.

(2) As countries have different contemporary and historical issues, I would stand and
publicize my stance on these controversies. So that electorates have a better
understanding of what I am fighting for.

(3) Being a Presidential Aspirant has many obligations, not limited to showing up in public
and shaking hands with people. Stating my platforms for change in society is needed, as
well as submitting my track record so that the voters know what to expect from me
upon winning the election.

(4) I would efficiently utilize contemporary posters, banners, and easy-to-distribute flyers in
rural areas inaccessible to the modernized civilization, as well as information that
comprises simple and comprehensive information about myself, to expand the influence
of the public services I offer.

Instilling promises on voters' minds is cliche, as it is only words that the candidates gave to
persuade them to gather votes and win the election. Yet, this would not be my strategy; I
believe that gathering trust from the public would help me win the election, and it would allow
me to fulfill my job once I am given a chance to be the representative of my country. Moreover,
I commend the strategies used by Marichuy during her campaigning period, which are going to
the different Indigenous communities in order for her to express her knowledge and advocacies
during the election. However, as we can see in the documentary, it wasn't enough to gather the
required votes for her to run as an independent presidential candidate. Although she lost or did
not even have the chance to fight for her advocacies, she still instilled patriotism toward her
indigenous fellowmen by recognizing their opportunities throughout her campaigning period.
Even I, a non-indigenous person, was amazed by how she handled the situation astoundingly
since there were irregularities after the election wherein there are fake voter ID cards and
numerous photocopied IDs. Impressively, there was no record found that Marichuy was one of
these alleged Presidential Candidates that used distortion in gathering the votes.
d. Cite your personal recommendations to ease the struggles of the indigenous communities in
the documentary. Your recommendation must be based on the learnings you acquired from
your GEE6.

These unlawful activities committed by the people especially the government, should be
addressed

3. Avoid plagiarism, use references (APA Format)

Avni, S. (2021). How a Jewish filmmaker chronicled an indigenous woman’s historic run for
Mexican president. Retrieved from:
https://forward.com/culture/467580/how-a-jewish-filmmaker-luciana-kaplan-maria-de-jesus-
patricio-martinez/

Tucker, D. (2017). 'Mexico needs healing’: the first indigenous woman to run for president.
Retrieved from:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/12/mexico-maria-de-jesus-patricio-martinez-
indigenous-woman-president

It Is the Time of the People: MarÍa de Jesús Patricio Martínez. (2017). Cultural Survival Quarterly
Magazine. Retrieved from:
https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/it-time-people-maria-
de-jesus-patricio-martinez

Lang, J. (2019). Mexico’s Luciana Kaplan on Indigenous Candidate Doc ‘The Spokeswoman’.
Retrieved from:
https://variety.com/2019/film/festivals/mexico-luciana-kaplan-indigenous-candidate-doc-the-
spokeswoman-1203407668/