Grandfather Genaro Tadeo Mejía – Mexico
Supreme Chief of the Indigenous Community of San Juan Coapanoaya
Grandfather Genaro Tadeo Mejía, born on July 14, 1963, is a guardian and promoter of the ancestral culture of the indigenous people of San Juan Coapanoaya, in the State of Mexico. A primary education teacher and a graduate in Social Sciences, he has dedicated his life to teaching, transmitting traditional knowledge, and strengthening the identity of indigenous peoples.
His path of service has been deeply linked to the preservation of traditions, languages, and ancestral cultural expressions. He has various diplomas in Mexican Folkloric Dance from institutions such as INBA, the School of Fine Arts of the State of Mexico, and the Benemérita Escuela Normal Nacional de México, as well as studies in the Nahuatl language and basic training in Otomi.
He is currently the Supreme Chief of the Indigenous Community of San Juan Coapanoaya, Interim State Counselor of the Autonomous Otomi Supreme Council of the State of Mexico, and Indigenous Representative of the Indigenous People of San Juan Coapanoaya before the City Council of the Municipality of Ocoyoacac.
As a community member and servant of his people, he has promoted numerous cultural and community initiatives aimed at keeping the collective memory and spirit of traditions alive. He has coordinated reforestation campaigns and organized traditional activities such as the Taco Placero Exhibition, the Muleteers Dance Contest, traditional palm weaving during Holy Week, the Day of the Dead offerings, and the Traditional Festival of San Juan Bautista.
A member of folk dance and traditional music groups, Grandpa Genaro has dedicated his life to sharing and strengthening the cultural wealth of his community at the local, regional, and national levels.
With deep respect for Mother Earth, ancestral roots, and the unity among peoples, he joins this circle carrying the voice, memory, and heart of the indigenous traditions of Mexico.