Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is a qualitative research method used to gather a deep understanding of a subject. In this session, educator and activist Fabiola Santiago will share her preliminary findings from a CBPR project on the Indigenous roots of mezcal. We will dive into four key roles that mezcal plays in the communal lives of Zapotec people from Santiago, Matatlán. Those include mayordomias (stewardship), espanto (healing method), ofrenda de cosecha (harvest offering), and pedida a la novia (permission for fiance’s hand in marriage). Additional everyday uses will be shared with attendees as a means to support the preservation of mezcal culture.

ABOUT FABIOLA

Fabiola Santiago is an Indigenous migrant of Zapotec descent from the nominal world capital of mezcal, Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, Mexico. Her personal experiences as a formerly undocumented person and her connection to Oaxaca’s rich culture–particularly as a descendant of mezcal makers–anchors her commitment to equity, community, and cultural preservation. Fabiola is the founder and director of Mi Oaxaca, a project that visibilizes, elevates, and preserves Oaxaca’s rich Indigenous cultures using research, storytelling, and a cultural education program. She earned her BA in Sociology and Masters in Public Health from the University of California, Los Angeles.