The Federation of Aboriginal Nations of the Americas (FANA) is proud to announce the appointment of Mr. Guadalupe Casas Acosta, Mazatzin D. H. C. as FANA’s Cultural Attaché, for Outreach and Repatriations of Antiquities and Artifacts.

Mr. Mazatzin D. H. C. first met FANA’s Minister of International Affairs and Ambassador to the United Nations, Principal Chief Dr. Ronald Yonaguska Holloway of the SandHill Band of Lenape and Cherokee Indians (SandHill) during the United Nations Indigenous Forum in 2014, as well as FANA’s Director Of Indigenous Affairs and Cultural Outreach to the United Nations, SandHill member Ms. Marie Lorena Cosme, and FANA’s Director of International Press, SandHill Government Liaison and Press Director, Mrs. Laura I Zucker.

In 2016, Mr. Mazatzin, D. H. C., Principal Chief Dr Holloway, Ms. Cosme, and Mrs. Zucker attended a meeting with Mrs. Jane O’Meara Sanders (wife of Bernie Sanders) and Columbia University Professor, Jeffery Sachs, as well as with other representatives of indigenous people.  Professor Sachs is the former director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and has worked on economic and sustainable developments.

Mrs. Sanders (on behalf of Bernie Sanders) wanted to meet with the members of FANA and their allies to learn about the issues confronting the Indigenous people.  She was educated on the fact that many of the issues that were of concern to the Indigenous People living in the United States were also shared by the Indigenous peoples of Mexico, Central America, and South America.

It was Mr. Mazatzin D. H. C. who brought the issues of the Mexican, Central and South Americas Indigenous peoples issues to that meeting.  Mr. Mazatzin has worked many years in Mexico, throughout the Americas, as well as globally in an attempt to have many of the different Indigenous items that were stolen from the Indigenous peoples by the Europeans returned to the proper owners.

Over the years, Mr. Mazatzin D. H. C., SandHill Principal Chief Dr. Holloway, Ms. Marie Lorena Cosme, and Mrs. Laura I Zucker have worked together on correspondence and in attending conferences via virtual links in Mexico and South America. Mr Mazatzin was also present at the January 28, 2023 signing of the International Indigenous Judiciary Treaty between FANA and the Kinakwii Confederation.

As a result of the length of time that both men have known each other, a friendship had developed between Mr. Mazatzin and Principal Chief Dr. Holloway which led to Principal Chief Dr. Holloway’s decision to inquire as to whether or not Mr. Mazatzin D. H. C. would be interested in becoming FANA’s Cultural Attaché for Outreach and Repatriations of Antiquities and Artifacts.  Principal Chief Dr. Holloway also inquired if Mr. Mazatzin would accept the position as FANA’s Ambassador to Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Mr. Mazatzin D. H. C. has accepted the positions of Cultural Attaché and of Ambassador, and he will be opening an embassy in Mexico.  However, this is a historical moment for the organization as this will be the first embassy to open outside the United States and this is the second embassy that will be opened by FANA. He and his staff will be opening the residence outside of Mexico City.

As FANA’s ambassador and Cultural Attaché, he will locate, identify, and gain possession of the many Indigenous Artifacts and Antiquities displayed in museums, or stored in private collections, religious institutions, and educational institutions belonging to the member nations of FANA.

Please watch the  video tape to learn more about Mr. Acosta and his role as FANA’s Cultural Attaché.