Ethnographies of Indigenous Exclusion in Western Mexico

In 1992 and 2001, the National Congress of Mexico approved several amendments to the constitution concerning the legal status and rights of indigenous peoples. However, the specific institutional aspects and practical implications of these changes were left to state legislatures, which have responded slowly and unevenly. A particular problem has been the lack of a clear definition of what indigenous political representation means for the different levels of the Mexican government. This article uses ethnographic materials collected in the state of Jalisco to document certain forms of exclusion and violations of citizen rights that relate to voids and ambiguities in legislation. It also contends that efficient representation necessitates an intercultural dialogue that accepts differences without essentializing them.