Cherán, Indigenous municipality in Michoacán, Mexico
Cherán is a municipality in Michoacán's mountains situated at roughly 2,250 meters (7,380 feet) elevation. The landscape contains forests, farmland, and neighborhoods spread across mountainous terrain.
In 2011, residents took control of their municipality by expelling local officials and creating their own governance structure. This shift came as a direct response to illegal logging and criminal violence affecting their forests and communities.
The Purépecha language and traditions remain woven into daily life, with residents speaking both it and Spanish in their communities. You will hear the indigenous language spoken openly in markets and homes throughout the municipality.
Decisions here are made through community assemblies where residents gather to vote directly on issues without involvement from political parties. Understanding this local governance approach helps visitors grasp how the municipality operates on a daily basis.
The community operates its own sustainable sawmill and protects forests through neighborhood watch groups organized by residents. This locally run forestry approach emerged from their commitment to managing resources independently.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
