In Episode 5 of Season 2, linguist, writer, and powerful activist Yásnaya Elena Aguilar Gil reflects on a deeply personal object: a letter addressed to a young Mixe historian.

Yásnaya’s narrative traces a journey of language, memory, and resistance. As a member of COLMIX—a collective working to preserve the Mixe language and culture—her words resonate with both the joy and the responsibility of speaking Mixe in contexts where it has been silenced asymptotejournal.comresearchgate.net+15sdcelarbritishmuseum.org+15whatdesigncando.com+15whatdesigncando.com+2latinamericanliteraturetoday.org+2thefunambulist.net+2.

The letter itself becomes a standing invitation to young scholars—to remember where they come from, to honour their language, and to contribute to a collective future. Through its lines, Yásnaya reclaims the capacity of words to both hurt and heal, to dismantle colonial erasure, and to assert linguistic rights .

🧭 Our Role

Partnering again with SDCELAR, we arranged and maintained high-quality remote recordings—from Yásnaya in Mexico to our hosts in London—ensuring each spoken word retained clarity and emotional resonance. We layered a subtle soundscape—quiet Mixe village soundscapes, the tactile rustle of paper—to frame her words in living context, while our edit gave space to her pauses and emphasis, honouring the rhythm of her language and reflection.

🧠 Why It Matters

This episode reaffirms Season 2’s theme of Volver a contar—“to tell again.” The letter becomes both a symbol and an act: a young historian is called to remember, speak, and shape. Yásnaya’s words remind us that language is not merely expression—it’s an act of survival, of belonging, and of invitation. It’s a call not to inherit silence—but to speak into being.

🔊 Listen Now

Stream “Carta a una joven historiadora Mixe” on Apple Podcasts as part of the full Season 2 journey.