Guadalajara 2011 has three different mascots: Gavo, Leo and Huichi. Gavo represents one of the strongest symbols of Jalisco: the agave (the plant where tequila comes from). Leo is not so clear what it represents as there are no lions in Mexico (besides those in zoos and circuses). And Huichi, who represents a deer, and has Huichol patterns painted on her forehead.
The idea to include the Huichol culture in the games is great. Emilio González Márquez, governor of Jalisco, said that: “the mascot represents the huichol people and it promotes the Pan American Games”. But the Huicholes say that somebody could have asked them.
The controversy centers on the sacred deer, a figure venerated by the huichol people that's been turned into a souvenir for the games. Olegario Mejía, representative of the Huichol people explained to the media that the deer is a sacred animal. According to La Jornada he explained it with an example: "It's like if I said that we are going to use Mexico's National Coat of Arms for something. It has that kind of meaning for us. The explanation is complex because it covers everything. It comes from our forebears, we keep it with us since our birth."
This conflict reminds in some ways that of the Danish cartoons of the prophet Muhammad that ignited an international crisis. What is sacred for one culture, may not be so for another one, and even if there is no intention to be offensive, there is a cultural gap that creates a conflict.
According to Animal Político, a group of Huicholes have been trying to talk with the Organizing Committee of the Pan American Games (COPAG), in order to deal with this issue, and include the Huichol people in the games in one way or another, but they didn’t get any response. Neither the COPAG nor the state government asked the Huichol for permission to use their image, or invited them to participate in the games.
Reality in Mexico is that the indigenous peoples are underrepresented or not represented at all in the civic and politic life of the country. As a consequence they have no voice in subjects of national interest, such as the Panamerican Games.
Notwithstanding this utter disdain for the indigenous side of contemporary Mexican life, you will see many indigenous symbols, figures and monuments, commercialized as Mexican icons. A practice that wouldn’t have anything wrong in itself, if the indigenous peoples were involved and/or getting at least some of the benefits.
“We are in no way against the Pan American Games, but we do feel disrespected by the fact of making a cartoon from a figure venerated by us.” said Olegario Mejía. The games are a great, and rare opportunity to show to the world the rich Mexican culture; we should make sure that what is shown is respectful to every culture, and try to include all segments of Mexican society to portray them in an accurate way.
