Mexico City, Mexico – Members of the Wixaritari tribe asked the United Nations last Thursday to help them protect their sacred land from mining companies.

A Wixaritari advocacy group called Defense Front presented United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples James Anaya with a report that claims a Canadian mining company is violating their rights and damaging their environment.

The Wixaritari, also known as Huichol, have been battling the federal government and the Canadian mining company over concessions allowing mining operations on land they consider scared over a decade. Last year, the Mexican government agreed to protect areas of the Wixaritari’s land and respect sacred areas.

Wixaritari representatives repeated their petition to halt any further mining concessions in the region, saying that mining operations cause irreversible environmental, social, and cultural damage.