The monarch butterfly's conservation is a theme that connects numerous "knowledges" and ways of looking at the world. This butterfly is probably the most well-known insect in North America, and it faces threats to its existence as it migrates through Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Its remarkable movement and the threat of extinction are what bind these disparate knowledges together. The Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) associated with Mexico, which is the overwintering habitat of the eastern monarch population, will be discussed here.
It is feasible to discuss the existence of traditions associated to the monarch butterfly's overwintering habitat among Mazahua and Otomis people in Mexico. These two ethnic groups are supposed to be related to the Otomangue period, which lasted from 200 to 600 A.D. in pre-colonial times (Tirel, 2013: 59). They are two of the earliest ethnic groups to have lived in the Mexican central plateau continuously. The word "Mazahua" comes from the Nahua language of the Aztecs. It literally means "deer people," yet those who belong to this group refer to themselves as Jato (their original name). The Nahuatl word "Otomi" also means "bird fletchers," and the group's self-ascribed name is Nya-Nyu or Ha-Hu. The oyamel woodland has a ritualistic aspect for both cultures. It occurs as a transitional space between the high oyamel forest, where the monarch butterfly spends the winter, and the milpa, a household garden usually located in the lower part of the mountains that host monarchs.
Harvesting Monarchs
The Mazahua and Otomi integrate monarchs into ancient ceremonies in a comprehensive way, especially during the agricultural season. The monarch's arrival coincides with the end of the harvest. This is why monarch butterflies are sometimes known as harvesters in their native habitat. These customs are pre-colonial, according to ethno-historic sources, and the king has been linked to the Sun God, the creator and giver of life, from pre-Hispanic times. According to those research, the Mazahua thought that "...the sun appeared every day from the mouth of the deity of creation, and that the sun rays became butterflies, seeds of the sun, to cover the earth and mankind, fertilize the land and pollinate the flowers, embellish the life and the air..." [Correa Pérez 1986, as cited by Duarte and Martnez (2004)]. Along the same lines, the creator's transformation into butterflies explains why monarch butterflies are such a productive life-giving bug. Furthermore, many communities correlate monarchical departures (returns of monarchs to the United States and Canada) with soil preparation and the start of the next agricultural cycle.
Monarchs as Soul Carriers
Monarchs are thought to be the souls of their ancestors among the forest villages of central Mexico. Monarchs contain the spirit of a relative or friend who returns to the living for one night. The "visit" will take place in the first few days of November to commemorate the Day of the Dead. People eat traditional maize foods, make an ofrenda (an altar or offering to the ancestors), and celebrate in public locations such as churchyards and plazas. Because of its bright color and overwhelming aroma, the orange blossom known as cempasuchil is used to guide the ancestors to the altars. The orange in the monarch wings is thought to be the same as the orange in this flower.
The monarch butterfly's connection to the agricultural cycle, as well as traditions surrounding the Day of the Dead, are important cultural reasons to safeguard this insect. Understanding monarch butterflies in relation to traditional knowledge helps to tell a story that transforms an exciting migrating insect into a significant cultural icon.
These links will take you to photographs of traditional Mazahua and Otomi ofrendas:
Aztec Monarch Butterfly Vintage Design Maya Aztec
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