This research examines the political strategies, grassroots organizing, and community-led resistance that enabled the Purépecha town of Cherán to declare autonomy from the Mexican state in 2011. Through fieldwork and interviews with local leaders, forest defenders, and members of the communal councils, the project explores how Indigenous self-governance emerged as both a response to state neglect and a model for territorial sovereignty.

The study highlights the intersections of Indigenous law, environmental stewardship, and collective security in a region shaped by violence, land grabs, and organized crime. It contributes to broader conversations on autonomy, anti-extractivist resistance, and democratic innovation in Latin America.

This research evolved into the short documentary Enraizados, co-directed with Sélim Benzeghia and supported by The Redford Center, Documentary Campus, and the AlterCiné Foundation. The film has screened at international festivals and is part of an active impact campaign led in partnership with Cherán’s communal councils.