Baja California seeks protection for Cerro Cuchumá heritage

The Baja California Secretariat of Culture is implementing an institutional strategy to protect the cultural heritage of Cerro Cuchumá. This initiative involves legal pathways, dialogue with Kumiai communities, and binational coordination to safeguard ceremonial practices and ancestral knowledge.

As part of the state process, an edict has been published in the Official State Gazette in accordance with Heritage Law. The state government is also working with the federal government to explore a potential federal declaration for the site.

Institutional actions began in April 2026, when an official request was sent to U.S. border authorities to halt demolitions involving explosives in the Cerro Cuchumá area. This request sought to prevent damage to archaeological vestiges and ceremonial spaces. Additionally, a binational meeting was held in Tecate with traditional authorities and Kumiai representatives from both Mexico and the United States to document the sacred nature of the site.