Oaxaca de Juárez.– Representatives of the Sezane clothing brand dressed with the garments of their new season to women Zapotecs of the central valleys of Oaxaca and asked them to dance to photograph and record them, actions that threaten the dignity of the peoples and communities, the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples condemned (INPI).
The events occurred last Saturday, January 8, in the traditional market of Teotitlán del Valle, in the central region of OaxacWith the garments of their new season to Zapotec Indians and ask them to dance to photograph and record them.
Before these actions, the INPI condemned “vigorously“ the improper use of the image of Zapotec indigenous women and announced that based on their powers, “it will dialogue with the authorities of Teotitlán and the aggravated persons to undertake a legal resource, in accordance with thelaw".
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The above, the institute argued, because these actions "threaten the dignity of peoples and communities and reinforce racist stereotypes about indigenous culture and traditions."
The federal agency recalled that according to article 2 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples “Indigenous Peoples and People are free and equal to all other peoples and persons and have the right not to be the subject of anytype of discrimination in the exercise of their rights, in particular that founded on its indigenous origin or identity. ”
While article 21 of the Federal Law on the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Indigenous and Aphromexican Peoples and Communities, whose project has been recently approved by the Legislative Power and sent to President Parasu publication, highlights that peoples and communities “may request theIntervention of the competent authority when considered that, based on the use of cultural heritage elements, acts have been performed that threaten or affect the dignity and cultural integrity of indigenous and Afromexican peoples and communities, without detriment of sanctions for damagemoral or discrimination that may take place. ”
Through a statement, the INPI made an “energetic call” to private brands and companies, to “cease to exploit indigenous and Afromexican peoples and communities as cultural capital, since they are not objects of clothing, but subjects of public law possessinga vast cultural heritage and traditional knowledge. ”
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The Sezane clothing brand was born in Paris, France in 2013 and is characterized by its style of vintage garments;It is owned by Morgane Sézalory.
