Photographer and Visual Artist Udell Jimenez is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this social documentary photography. From his project ‘Roots Of Mexico“. To see Udell’s portfolio click on any image.
Found in the Temoaya Mountains in the State of Mexico, the Otomí is one of the five major indigenous’ groups in Mexico. The Otomi civilization occupied this area before the Spanish conquest, with whom they took alliance.
The Ottomi population is disappearing rapidly. In 2000 their population was 646,857, in 2010 only 98,000 Otomis were registered in Mexico. It’s estimated that by 2020 their culture and traditions will be gone forever.
In the three months I spent documenting the Otomi in 2014 I learned that they live is extreme poverty. The schools are too far for the children to attend. The teachers are concerned that the language may not survive, fewer people speak the original language.
Their diet is based on beans, black corn, rice and tea which is harvested on their land. Agriculture is an important part of their lives since the community lives off the land.
‘Pulque’, a beverage 100% Mexican, made of aguamiel , a very strong drink produced to sell to the people in the city.
Documenting the Otomi changed my life. They are friendly and humble people. The Otomi share the little they have; they wish to be heard and to live a better quality of life. I learn the history is just as important as the future.
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By Udell Jimenez
