The First Sunrise (Mat+ari muka he k+arix tsíe meme), is a Wixárika (Huichol) creation myth animation film from "68 Voces-68 Corazones," narrating how the Wixáritari ancestors brought light to the world. (Image courtesy of 68 Voces-68 Corazones)
Bringing Indigenous Languages to Life Through Animation
There is an ancient Otomi story about the beginning of the world. It’s a tale of a boy who, many years ago, escaped from the evil rulers of the world. He climbed a great tree, from which drops of water sprang forth, giving rise to corn. By the time the evil rulers realized what was happening, the boy had risen to become the Sun.
This story is one is a series of animated short films from “68 Voces, 68 Corazones” (68 Voices, 68 Hearts), that retell indigenous Mexican stories in their native languages. Created in 2013, this series has produced films in more than half of Mexico’s 68 linguistic groups including Otomi, Tohono O'odham, Huichol, Tarahumara, Nahuatl, Mayan and Mixtec.
A new initiative at Duke, “Voices in Motion: Indigenous Languages in Animation,” is helping to advance this work by bringing together students, artists and Indigenous communities to celebrate and preserve the Indigenous languages of Mexico through storytelling and art.
Led by the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) within Romance Studies — and made possible by support from the Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation — the project expands Duke’s ongoing collaboration with renowned Mexican artist Gabriela Badillo, director of “68 Voces, 68 Corazones.”
The project builds on Badillo’s earlier involvement in Duke’s “Sociolinguistic Justice in the Americas” initiative during the 2023–2024 academic year. This year, from February 16-27, 2026, Badillo will be a scholar in residence working closely with Duke students through a series of collaborative workshops. Participants will learn about the artistic process behind the animations, as well as the cultural and ethical dimensions of working with Indigenous languages and narratives.
“For us, this is not just about making a film,” said Professor of the Practice of Romance Studies Liliana Paredes. “It’s about fostering relationships, amplifying Indigenous knowledge, and helping students understand language as a living, dynamic expression of culture and identity.”
This new phase deepens those conversations by connecting Duke students with indigenous collaborators in both Oaxaca and Durham. The effort will produce a new animated short film in Chatino, an Indigenous language spoken in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Students involved in the experience will be challenged to rethink the role of media in social justice, since animation can often be perceived as entertainment as opposed to art or activism. The project demonstrates to students how animation can also be an act of preservation.
“At a time when so many Indigenous languages are at risk of disappearing, animation can be a powerful tool for revitalization,” said Paredes.
The initiative will culminate in a public event showcasing the animated short and reflecting on the collaborative process behind it. Organizers hope the project will inspire similar partnerships and highlight the importance of Indigenous languages across the Americas. As Paredes put it, “When people hear these languages spoken and see their stories animated, they realize they are not relics of the past — they are voices in motion.”
