Peacebuilding in the 21 Communities of Teopisca

Written on 11 April 2026. Posted in News

By María del Carmen Pérez Díaz & Elisa Cruz Rueda for Indigenous Debates 

In the Highlands of Chiapas (Los Altos de Chiapas), in southeastern Mexico, Indigenous communities have developed their own systems of self-governance shaped by a history of forced displacement. Through these processes, they have established shared agreements aimed at preventing violence, resolving conflicts, and strengthening the conditions that make it possible to live with dignity. Peace is understood as a daily practice, built through dialogue and collective responsibility.

The 21 communities of the municipality of Teopisca share a common history: forced displacement from their places of origin due to political, religious, and land-related conflicts. This experience profoundly shaped their social, territorial, and community organisation, requiring them to adapt to and make a new biocultural environment their own. Most of their inhabitants are speakers of the Tsotsil Indigenous language.

Although there were previously 22 communities, the community of Galilea decided to separate after successfully securing access to water on its own and therefore no longer participates in efforts carried out across communities to sustain this service. Beyond this particular situation, there is mutual respect for the normative system and Indigenous governance of each community. It is important to note that within some of the 21 communities, there are rancherías and small settlements.

The 21 communities of this municipality in the state of Chiapas are as follows: Cañada, Betania, Nuevo San Juan, Nueva Zinacantán, Nazareth, Benito Juárez, Dolores, Monte Líbano, Nueva Amatenango, Belén, San Geron, San Jerónimo, Jardín, Guadalupe, Damasco, Nuevo Belén, Nueva Palestina, Lluvia de Gracia, Vista Hermosa, Vergel, and Nuevo Paraíso.

Strengthening the Social Fabric

Despite forced displacement resulting from a context of violence and exclusion, the 21 communities have been able to develop an organisational process across communities aimed at preventing violence, transforming conflicts, and strengthening the conditions that allow them to live with dignity, justice, and well-being. In this sense, peacebuilding is not limited to the absence of conflict; rather, it involves the creation of social relationships grounded in respect, inclusion, and cooperation.

Over time, experience has shown that interactions grounded in respect and cooperation have enabled positive development within each of the communities, sustained through the application of community norms and the recognition of their forms and structures of Indigenous governance. This concept, in contrast to “usos y costumbres,” makes it possible to better understand the complexity of their social and political organisation.

By way of example, in the community of Dolores, daily life is governed by norms and rules that are divided into internal and external categories. This logic arises from the need to regulate the shared use of natural resources, such as the community spring, and to respect each community’s own organisational structure. In this vein, the norms of each community tend to be similar, with some variations, making it relatively easy for a person to move from one community to another, as long as they behave with respect.

More broadly, community rules are communicated through clearly visible signs that indicate what is permitted and what is prohibited. Some commonly observed rules include vehicle speed limits, respect for land belonging to others, care for the surrounding forest, the prohibition of harming animals, and restrictions on cutting down trees. These types of norms are common across most of the communities.

Key Dimensions of Peacebuilding

Peacebuilding in the 21 communities of Teopisca is sustained through multiple dimensions that enable harmonious coexistence among their inhabitants. These dimensions are deeply intertwined with organisational forms and structures, systems of governance, community norms, and mutual respect among individuals and neighbouring communities, elements commonly referred to as “usos y costumbres.”

In this context, peace, understood as the capacity to face differences and conflicts arising from disagreements and tensions, is built through dialogue, collective cooperation, and adherence to rules that promote the common good and protect shared natural resources. Within their own organisational structures, each community contributes to regional stability, demonstrating that respect for the diversity of community governance forms is a fundamental element in sustaining peaceful and lasting relationships.

From this understanding, the prevention of violence in the 21 Indigenous communities of the municipality of Teopisca is based primarily on the application of, and respect for, internal and external norms that regulate social coexistence and the use of territory. These norms enable the anticipation and peaceful resolution of conflicts before they escalate into violence.

The care of the spring, the surrounding forest, and common goods constitute concrete examples of how community organisation helps prevent disputes, as it establishes clear limits on what is permitted and what is not. Likewise, shared signs and rules help both community members and outsiders understand the responsibilities they are expected to assume when passing through or remaining in the communities, thereby avoiding tensions and fostering respect.

Participation of Community Members

The rights of community members and of the communities themselves are expressed through the recognition of their autonomy and their own forms of organisation, commonly referred to as “usos y costumbres.” Each community is entitled to establish norms that protect its territory, natural resources, and way of life.

At the same time, these rights entail responsibilities: respect for collective decisions, agreements reached within and across communities, and norms established for the common good. It is important to highlight that mutual recognition among communities strengthens regional coexistence, as it allows each one to preserve its identity without imposing it on others.

The active participation of community members is a fundamental pillar of peacebuilding. Through assemblies, community agreements, and the collective monitoring of norm compliance, people become directly involved in caring for their community. This participation strengthens a sense of belonging and responsibility: rules are not only followed but also understood as part of a collective effort. Women, men, elders, and young people contribute, from their respective roles, to maintaining social balance, demonstrating that peace is built collectively and in everyday life.

Peace as a Daily Practice

Peacebuilding in the 21 Indigenous communities of Teopisca is the result of a collective process grounded in respect, cooperation, and the upholding of community norms and “usos y costumbres.” Thus, through internal organisation, active community participation, and the stewardship of shared natural resources, the communities have been able to prevent conflicts and strengthen social coexistence.

Respect for internal and external norms not only regulates daily life but also promotes recognition of each community’s autonomy and fosters harmonious relationships among them. In this sense, peace is understood not as the absence of conflict, but as a daily practice grounded in dialogue, collective responsibility, and a commitment to the common good, thereby ensuring a dignified, just, and balanced life for present and future generations.

María del Carmen Pérez Díaz is a member of the community of Dolores and comes from a family displaced for religious reasons. Her mother tongue is Tsotsil. She is a graduate of the School of Indigenous Management and Self-Development and is currently completing her thesis entitled “Use and Management of Plants in Two Tsotsil Communities”.

Elisa Cruz Rueda is both a lawyer and anthropologist. She is currently a professor at the School of Indigenous Management and Self-Development at the Autonomous University of Chiapas.

Cover photo: Héctor Guillermo

Tags: Indigenous Debates