Cherán
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The municipio of Cherán is located in the Mexican state of Michoacán, which is situated in the central western portion of the Republic of Mexico and extends to the Pacific Shore. Cherán, itself, lies in the northwestern portion of Michoacán about 200 miles due west of Mexico City and approximately 123 km (76.5 miles) west of the state capital of Morelia; it is about 2400 meters (7874 feet) above sea level. The Municipio Cherán is reported to have a population of 16,243, while the Localidad Cherán (town) is officially accounted to have 12,616 souls of which 5,827 are men and 6,787 are women. Cherán is one of a contiguous group of eleven Municipios that are demographically denoted as Purépecha. In Crossing Over, a book about the migrant community of Cherán, by Ruben Martinez, [1] the author explains that in the Purépecha [2] language Cherán actually means “a place of fear” alluding to its unfriendly landscape of “abrupt, irregular peaks and chasms” which bodes disaster to anyone taking a careless step. Inhabitants speak the language of the Purépecha, as well as the local variety of Spanish [3].
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[edit] Climate
Cherán is in a tropical area but, because of its altitude, is actually rather cooler than the lower lying jungles and coastlands. Instituto Nacional de Estadística Geografía e Informática (INEGI) indicates that the average temperatures for Zamora between the years of 1971 and 1999 ranged between 17 and 24 Cº, or 63 and 75 Fº respectively. INEGI also records average annual precipitation in Zamora over the same period of time as being 820.3 mm, or between 33 and 34 inches per year. (Zamora is the closest city for which these statistics are given: it is about 48 km from Cherán – see third link). [4].
[edit] Business and Government Statistics:
Martinez describes the length of Cherán from north to south as about three-quarters of a mile. The three prominent buildings in Cherán include the church, the presidencia municipal, and the casa de cambio, or currency exchange center. There is no bank, but the casa de cambio serves the needs of the numerous migrants returning each year from the United States. The government website boasts of 2,589 viviendas, or dwellings. The Cherán website also affirms that 80% of water is potable, 60% of the roads are paved, 90% of the streets have public lighting, but only 35% of garbage, or waste, is collected. The Municipio is able to provide education from preschool through high school graduate levels. Adults have access to the services of the Instituto Nacional de Educación [5].
[edit] Utilities
On the other hand, Ruben Martinez offers a first hand report of the poor availability of running water with half of the population availing themselves of public spigots. He also notes that there are only around 130 private telephone lines with banks of public phones, or public casetas, of which the general public avails itself to communicate mostly with relatives who have migrated to the United States—most of these calls are paid for by the relatives. The average annual wage is estimated at about $3,000 converted to U.S. currency. Martinez reported that road conditions are poor, with large potholes in abundance and that drainage and sewage systems are inadequate with most households still using outhouses.
[edit] Economy of Cherán
[edit] Local Economy
Agriculture and raising livestock account for 49% of Cherán’s economic activity: corn, wheat, potatoes, beans and oats make up the bulk of the community’s harvest while it local farmers raise cows, horses, pigs, sheep and goats. Wooden products, including furniture and furniture repair, and cork account for less than 19% of the economy. Commercial production of apples, peaches, apricots, pears and plums comprise a meager 10% of Cherán’s economic resources. There are essentially no services besides fondas, or small restaurants, that serve local fare. [6]
[edit] Economy linked to the U.S.
In his book Crossing Over, Ruben Martinez discusses the close ties Cherán's economy shares with the United States. The 1994 economic crisis in Mexico, “la crisis” sent a flood of Mexican workers into the United States. Mexican immigrant workers filled jobs in hotels and restaurants, and masses of unskilled, illegal immigrants worked in seasonal jobs. Every spring, about one-third of the people in Cherán head to the United States for seasonal work. For towns in the highlands, they have a 60 to 70 percent decrease in their population during these months. The United States estimates that there are 2.5 to 3 million indigenous Mexicans from Michoacán currently living in American. [7] Working in the United States, they are able to make about $6.00 an hour, twice the day rate they would earn in Cherán .
[edit] Supporting the economy of Cherán
The money illegal and legal immigrants bring back from the U.S. supports, not only individuals, but also the whole economy of Cherán . Undocumented workers bring back about $5 billion a year to Michoacán . Cherán's total state budget in 1999 was one-third this amount. The U.S. government found that, in 1998, 9,000 workers who once worked legally in the United States receive a total of $3 million a month from U.S. Social Security. [8]
[edit] Improving Material Conditions
The money Cherán's make in seasonal work go towards improving their living conditions. The American dollar is worth nearly ten pesos and when the workers return, they are basically wealthy. Their wealth goes to adding on additions to their homes. Martinez describes the great gaiety involved in this work.
There is no gringo patron overseeing the job. And the finished product will be enjoyed not by some white middle-class family that will never invite the migrant laborers to dinner. These rooms will be inhabited by the migrants themselves.
[edit] U.S. Political Policy on Immigration
[edit] U.S. Policy on Immigration
During 1900-1910, the U.S. received around 1 million immigrants per year. These immigrants were mostly from either Asia or eastern and southern countries in Europe, who were predominantly Catholic. The "older immigrants," or those that had been in the US longer, mostly consisted of Protestants from the western European countries. These "older immigrants" began to feel threatened by the new trend of immigration and formed groups with the goal of restricting immigration into the U.S. From this effort many new restrictions were placed on immigration. This included the literacy test, passed even over President Woodrow Wilson's veto, which required immigrants to pass an 'intelligence test' based on the English language before they were granted citizenship. [9] This also lead to the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the Immigration Act of 1924. In 1942, the bracero program was instituted by the U.S. and Mexican government in order to relieve the effects of the war effort on U.S. farmers. [10] In 1965, the U.S. formed the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which increased the quotas of immigrants from Latin America. [11] Finally, in 1986 the U.S. formed the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, which granted amnesty to undocumented immigrants. [12] The U.S. currently has established a visa program where a citizen of the United States, may sponsor his or her family to obtain a green card and citizenship. [13]
[edit] Cherán’s Immigration towards the U.S.
According to Martinez, the migrant workers will immigrate to where their labor is necessary. The Migrant worker finds work, from coast to coast, that varies from agricultural needs to working in hotels and restaurants. Local authorities estimate that about one-third of Cherán’s population travels north each spring and returns around October. The word purépecha, literally translated, means, 'a people who travel'. The cheránes, who are descendants of the purépecha people, only continue with the tradition of their ancestors by migrating to the US to find work.
[edit] Culture of Cherán
Cherán is a town which possesses both an indigenous old world culture as well as a new culture adopted from America. They have managed to coexist and mix in many ways however, the clash and question of cultural identity is becoming more apparent. Much of Cherán’s culture has managed to avoid change despite a world which has always progressed around it. This old world culture has been existent since the pre-Columbian era. The people of Cherán take pride in being Purepechas and speak the native language to this day. However, due to immigration, Cherán is rapidly adopting the American way of life. The presence of these two cultures in Cherán is shown in detail in Ruben Martinez’s Crossing Over.
Much of this culture clash is the result of immigration. Martinez does show, however, that immigration is not the only means of bringing American culture to Cherán. Technology is playing a vital role. The people of Cherán, migrants or not, are all eager to have satellite dishes on their homes. American shows are now invading the homes of Cheránes and introducing them to a new way of life. This is causing many more people to migrate so that they can have the life that they see on their television.
Although there is a great deal of adaptaion and coexistense of cultures in Cherán, many elders feel that American culture is creating immorrality in their sacred way of life. If immigration continues as it is right now, Cherán’s new culture will make them a part of globalization
[edit] Religion and Healing
The town of Cheran has modern doctors, however, the people still believe in witchcraft and seek certain forms of medical treatment from Indian healers or brujas. The doctors and Indian healers were, at one time, enemies, however, they now work together for the good of the people. Migration has caused more work for the brujas because they must consult with migrants in the United States through modern technology while maintaining their ancient methods of healing. Cheran’s religion is a mix of Indian tradition and Catholicism. Indian Gods and Christian saints were combined and related to create what exists today
[edit] Fashion
Martinez observes that one of the most popular displays of American culture is through fashion. Many women continue to wear traditional headwraps known as 'rebozas'. However, the current clothing style consists of jeans and t-shirts brought to Cherán by migrants. For men, American apparel is a sign of success. During the nineties men wore large nylon jackets with NBA or NFL logos, the most popular being the Chicago Bulls. This was due to the fact that a large number of migrants lived in the inner city of Chicago when the Bulls were at the height of their success. Owning a jacket like this was a sign of wealth.
[edit] Social Mobility and Opportunity
The people of Cherán have adopted what we consider 'The American Dream'. Once a migrant has been to the United States they have seen the luxuries that exist outside of their country. By working and earning money they may be able to climb the social ladder, whether that be in Cherán or the United States. Just as most Americans do, the people of Cherán dream of owning their own land and having a comfortable two-story house. By migrating they are given that opportunity. If there is no migration then Cherán will be left behind in a world that is constantly changing.
[edit] Race and Gender
Hierarchy of color is extremely present in Cherán. It has always existed and is as strong as it ever was. People with light skin are considered wealthy and more attractive while those who are darker are considered the poor. Gender roles and ideas are changing in Cherán and are most apparent with women. Once a woman has been to the United States she has seen the idea of having more independence. This is one reason for the increasing number of single mothers in Cherán.
[edit] Media
XEPUR-AM, a government-run indigenous community radio station that broadcasts in Purepecha, is based in Cherán.
