Every year the Huichol people make a pilgrimage from their villages in western Mexico to the sacred land of Wirikuta, crossing the southern reaches of the high Chihuahua desert into the arid folds of the Catorce mountains. They believe that there, on Cerro Quemado peak, the sun was born. Below, the Wirikuta landscape is home to deities and spirits at the heart of Huichol belief and tradition. But the Wirikuta has drawn interest for another reason: silver veins that have been mined for centuries. Rising commodity prices and new technology have rekindled interest among mining companies, which have acquired sprawling government concessions. The company furthest along in its plans is First Majestic of Vancouver, which aims to invest US$110 million over 15 years to... [Log in to read more]