I focused some of my travel and research in Oaxaca, the last stop on my journey, and it left a deep impression—lively, colorful, full of soul, beauty, friendly people, and of course, its own complexities and challenges. Mexico was colonized long before Australia (in the 1500s), yet it retains thriving Indigenous populations, with a rich web of plant and sacred knowledge. Oaxaca is particularly rich in Indigenous culture and traditions and is famous for its use of plant dyes—one of the key reasons I traveled here.

Located in southern Mexico, Oaxaca stands out alongside Chiapas and Yucatán as one of the states with the highest Indigenous populations—and, regrettably, some of the highest poverty rates. This correlation is sadly familiar worldwide. Oaxaca’s incredible diversity of Indigenous communities is reflected in its linguistic, cultural, and artistic traditions, making it a hub of ancestral knowledge and a vibrant living culture.

I focused some of my travel and research in Oaxaca, the last stop on my journey, and it left a deep impression—lively, colorful, full of soul, beauty, friendly people, and of course, its own complexities and challenges. Mexico was colonized long before Australia (in the 1500s), yet it retains thriving Indigenous populations, with a rich web of plant and sacred knowledge. Oaxaca is particularly rich in Indigenous culture and traditions and is famous for its use of plant dyes—one of the key reasons I traveled here.

Located in southern Mexico, Oaxaca stands out alongside Chiapas and Yucatán as one of the states with the highest Indigenous populations—and, regrettably, some of the highest poverty rates. This correlation is sadly familiar worldwide. Oaxaca’s incredible diversity of Indigenous communities is reflected in its linguistic, cultural, and artistic traditions, making it a hub of ancestral knowledge and a vibrant living culture.