Melquiades (Kiado) Cruz

Melquiades (Kiado) Cruz is a distinguished community organizer, communication technology innovator, and Indigenous scholar hailing from the Zapotec community of Yagavila in the Rincón de la Sierra Norte of Oaxaca. Rooted in the Sierra, alongside his ancestors, Kiado’s family continues to reside there, cultivating the fields that surround them. Drawing upon the wealth of knowledge from his community and beyond, Kiado endeavors to reflect, motivate, and explore alternative avenues for regenerating culture through communication. Read full bio. 

Kiado’s Project: Digital Empowerment: Bridging Divides for Marginalized and Indigenous Communities in Oaxaca, Mexico – A Community Data Governance Initiative

The “Digital Empowerment: Bridging Divides for Marginalized and Indigenous Communities in Oaxaca, Mexico” is a groundbreaking Community Data Governance Initiative that partners with the “Indigital” initiative launched by indigenous communities in Oaxaca. Created during the pandemic, this project tackles inequalities arising from ICT organization and data extraction, addressing issues stemming from a lack of planning and restricted access to information and communication. By establishing comprehensive data governance systems, it empowers marginalized communities to access, manage, and use information effectively, promoting digital inclusion, transparency, and informed decision-making to enhance their quality of life. The initiative aims to affirm rights to information, expand access to government information in Indigenous languages, address data access and control, and design ICTs tailored to community needs, in collaboration with the University Services and Knowledge Networks of Oaxaca