Two Illinois State University students recently visited the town of San Sebastián del Monte, a small community in southern Mexico, to produce a documentary film focused on the preservation of the Indigenous language Mixtec.
This two-week trip in late May was led by don Félix Cortés, a member of the community and language activist, and Dr. Iara Mantenuto, an associate professor from California State University, Dominguez Hills, specializing in linguistics. Dr. Fernando Severino, an assistant professor for the School of Communication and Latin America and Latino/a Studies Program, was Illinois State’s faculty advisor for the multidisciplinary trip. The project, which received funding from the National Science Foundation, aims to document and advocate for the revitalization of Mixtec among younger generations.
The team also included Illinois State senior Nate Richards, a mass media major on the video production track from Naperville. At the project’s core is an effort to document the language, the culture, and the ethnobotanic knowledge of the community, while describing the challenges faced by the community in preserving its linguistic heritage.
Upon arrival, Richards and his colleagues were welcomed by the San Sebastián del Monte community.
“Being outsiders… through collaborative efforts and workshops with local students on videography techniques, we were able to build rapport and gain community support,” Richards said.
The experience was not without its challenges. The work required long days, and Richards, who speaks neither Mixtec nor Spanish, faced a language barrier.
“Even though there are language barriers, you can see in their body language how passionate they are talking about their heritage and community,” Richards said.
The project’s impact extends beyond documenting language; it aims to shed light on the broader cultural context. “The main thing is learning about the culture and the language,” Richards said. “In the newer generations, it’s kind of faded.”
To select interviewees, the team worked closely with a community representative throughout their stay. “When we first got there, we had to meet with the city council, and they had to approve us,” Richards said. “This process ensures that our work is collaborative and respectful of local customs.”
Despite lack of common language, the team found common ground in shared goals. “Everything’s very close, everyone’s more community-built there, which I feel is a little different, but in a good way,” Richards said.
This communal spirit strengthened the team’s interactions and understanding of San Sebastián’s dynamics, according to Richards. He said the documentary’s production also positively impacted the local community. “One of the things we would do is run workshops with the students,” Richards said. The team taught videography skills to local youth to empower the community to engage with storytelling through technology.
Although the documentary is more than two years away from premiering, Richards is already anticipating the film’s impact. “I aim to convey an appreciation for Indigenous cultures and highlight the importance of preserving endangered languages like Mixtec,” Richards said.
The experience solidified Richards’s passion for videography and documentary filmmaking. “It was a really fun trip,” Richards said. “This is something I really want to do for the rest of my career. From start to finish, it was a good trip.”
Richards said the journey to San Sebastián was more than a documentary project. It resulted in personal and professional growth. “I think it’s really cool to go out there and kind of experience a different culture and a different community. It’s something that everyone should do because you’re going to get this different perspective on life.”
The documentary is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2026, and Richards will continue working on the project during his senior year at Illinois State. Lauren Leisure
