Inocencia Arellano Mijarez, a linguist from Durango, has been appointed Director General of the National Institute of Indigenous Languages (INALI), an agency that had been without a head since January 2023, when Juan Gregorio Regino’s term ended. Since then, the organization had been operating with only an acting director. The appointment was made by the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
Arellano Mijarez’s arrival at the helm of INALI has generated various positive reactions on social media and among groups linked to the defense of Indigenous peoples. The Center for Studies and Consulting for Indigenous Peoples – Durango publicly expressed its support for the appointment, highlighting her experience and commitment:
“We at this organization celebrate the appointment of Dr. Inocencia Arellano Mijarez as head of the National Institute of Indigenous Languages. Throughout more than 10 years of collaboration, we have witnessed her commitment to Indigenous peoples and their languages.” During this time, we have witnessed the dedication and professionalism that Inocencia Arellano Mijarez, Director General of the National Institute of Indigenous Languages, brings to each of the projects she has worked on.
“Her analytical skills and ability to balance academic pursuits with social action, working in support of Mexico’s Indigenous languages, are admirable and essential in a position like the one she has now been appointed to. May the appointment of an O’dam woman to such a position be a victory for all O’dam people, the peoples of the north, and all the peoples of Mexico. Congratulations!”
Similarly, the Facebook page Indigenous Languages of Mexico on the Web joined in the congratulations: “Dr. Inocencia Arellano Mijarez, many congratulations on your appointment as Director of the National Institute of Indigenous Languages! Much success!”
Born in Santiago Teneraca, Mezquital, Durango, Arellano Mijarez is a native speaker of O’dam, the indigenous language of her community, and has dedicated her professional life to the preservation, strengthening, and dissemination of this language, as well as to the promotion of indigenous cultures. Her background combines academic experience and community work, positioning her as a leading figure in the fields of linguistics and bilingual education in Mexico.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the Juárez University of the State of Durango, a Master’s degree in Amerindian Studies and Bilingual Education from the Autonomous University of Querétaro, and a Doctorate in Indigenous Linguistics from the Center for Research and Advanced Studies in Social Anthropology.
Among her main contributions are her participation in the preservation of O’dam through workshops for teachers and communities, as well as her collaboration with the O’dam/Au’dam Community Linguistic Planning Committee, which is responsible for developing educational materials for teaching these languages in basic education.
A research professor at the University of Indigenous Languages of Mexico, where she continues to promote projects focused on the teaching and revitalization of native languages.
In December 2024, she participated in the translation of the reform to Article 2 of the Constitution, in a coordinated effort among various institutions to bring this document into 58 indigenous languages, representing a significant step forward in the recognition of linguistic rights in the country.
Likewise, in February 2024, within the framework of International Mother Language Day, she was part of the translation process for the first free textbooks in indigenous languages, a historic event that strengthened education in native communities.
Now, INALI is regaining its direction under the leadership of a native of Durango, a specialist with community roots, a solid academic background, and a career focused on the defense and promotion of indigenous languages, in a context where their preservation represents one of the country’s main cultural challenges.
Source: oem
