Organization:Sistema de Radiodifusoras Culturales Indigenistas
The Sistema de Radiodifusoras Culturales Indigenistas (SRCI; English: Indigenous Cultural Broadcasting System) is a network of radio stations in Mexico. The radio stations it operates are community radio stations that aim to serve different sectors of the country's indigenous peoples. Pursuant to Article 4 of the Constitution, their mission is to strengthen the multicultural nature of the nation by promoting the use of 31 indigenous languages.
History
The SRCI began operations in 1979 with the launch of XEZV-AM, "La Voz de la Montaña", in Tlapa de Comonfort, Guerrero. The network was initially managed by the National Indigenist Institute (INI), an agency of the federal government; the INI was, however, dissolved in 2003 and replaced by the National Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples (CDI), which consequently assumed control over the network.
Stations
The SRCI currently operates 19 medium wave (AM) stations and two high-power very high frequency (FM) stations. It also has four 10-watt FM stations in Yucatán and formerly held permits for three more in Michoacán.[1] An additional medium-wave station, XENAC in Nacajuca, Tabasco, ceased operations in 1990 and its broadcasting permit was suspended in 2001.
The 21 main stations transmit for an average of 12 hours a day, during daylight hours, covering 928 municipalities with high levels of indigenous inhabitants. The stations' potential audience comprises 5 million speakers of indigenous languages and more than 22 million Spanish speakers. They all broadcast an array of programming in both Spanish and the particular native languages spoken in the coverage area.
Three stations are AM-FM migrants that now operate primarily on FM: XHCARH, XHTUMI and XHNKA. The former is required to maintain its AM station because it is the only radio service for certain communities in its AM coverage area.
| Call sign | Launched | Transmitting from | Coverage | Languages | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XEZV | 10 May 1979 | Guerrero (Tlapa de Comonfort) |
Guerrero Oaxaca Puebla |
Nahuatl Mixtec Tlapanec |
800 AM |
| XETLA | 15 September 1982 | Oaxaca (Tlaxiaco) |
Oaxaca Guerrero Puebla |
Mixtec Triqui |
930 AM |
| XEPUR | 2 October 1982 | Michoacán (Cherán) |
Michoacán | Purepecha | 830 AM |
| XETAR | 11 November 1982 | Chihuahua (Guachochi) |
Chihuahua Sinaloa Durango |
Tarahumara Tepehuano |
870 AM |
| XEPET | 29 November 1982 | Yucatán (Peto) |
Yucatán Quintana Roo Campeche |
Yucatec Maya | 730 AM |
| XEVFS | 27 April 1987 | Chiapas (Las Margaritas) |
Chiapas Guatemala |
Tojolabal Mam Tseltal Tsotsil Popti |
1030 AM |
| XEANT | 28 September 1990 | San Luis Potosí (Tancanhuitz de Santos) |
San Luis Potosí Hidalgo Querétaro Veracruz |
Nahuatl Pame Wastek |
770 AM |
| XEGLO | 18 November 1990 | Oaxaca (Guelatao de Juárez) |
Oaxaca Veracruz |
Zapotec Mixe Chinantec |
780 AM |
| XEZON | 20 November 1991 | Veracruz (Zongolica) |
Veracruz Oaxaca Puebla Tlaxcala |
Nahuatl | 1360 AM |
| XEOJN | 14 December 1991 | Oaxaca (San Lucas Ojitlán) |
Oaxaca Puebla Veracruz |
Mazatec Cuicatec Chinantec |
950 AM |
| XEJMN | 3 April 1992 | Nayarit (Jesús María) |
Nayarit Jalisco Durango Zacatecas |
Cora Huichol Tepehuano Nahuatl |
750 AM |
| XEJAM | 5 May 1994 | Oaxaca (Santiago Jamiltepec) |
Oaxaca Guerrero |
Mixtec Amuzgo Chatino |
1260 AM |
| XEQIN | 15 June 1994 | Baja California (San Quintín) |
Baja California | Mixtec Zapotec Triqui |
1160 AM |
| XECTZ | 21 August 1994 | Puebla (Cuetzalan) |
Puebla Hidalgo Veracruz |
Nahuatl Totonac |
1260 AM |
| XEXPUJ | 22 January 1996 | Campeche (Xpujil) |
Campeche Quintana Roo |
Yucatec Maya Ch'ol |
700 AM |
| XEETCH | 19 February 1996 | Sonora (Etchojoa) |
Sonora Sinaloa Chihuahua |
Mayo Yaqui Guarijio |
700 AM |
| XECOPA | 17 July 1997 | Chiapas (Copainalá) |
Chiapas Tabasco |
Zoque Tzotzil |
1210 AM |
| XHTUMI | 12 May 1998 | Michoacán (Tuxpan) |
Michoacán Edo. de México Querétaro |
Mazahua Otomi |
107.9 FM |
| XHCARH | 1 August 1998 | Hidalgo (Cardonal) |
Hidalgo Querétaro Veracruz San Luis Potosí |
Ñha-ñhu Nahuatl |
89.1 FM + 1480 AM |
| XHNKA | 15 June 1999 | Quintana Roo (Felipe Carrillo Puerto) |
Quintana Roo | Yucatec Maya | 104.5 FM |
| XETPH | 8 November 2012 | Durango (Santa María de Ocotán) |
Durango, Nayarit | O'dam, Wixarika | 960 AM |
Programming
The stations' programming is eminently community-focused. Bilingual presenters attend inquiries from listeners, convey community and personal announcements, and promote various government assistance programmes in the areas of health, education, human rights, etc. Traditional music is also a key component of the stations' broadcasts, and their recording collections, frequently gathered in the field, constitute an important cultural resource.
References
External links
- Sistema de Radiodifusoras Culturales Indigenistas (INI)
- Sistema de Radiodifusoras Culturales Indigenistas (CDI)
- SRCI webcasts
- SRCI station directory
- The Negotiation of Indigenist Radio Policy in Mexico (on World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters website)
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