Challenging Spiritual Discrimination in California Prisons After Ban on Mexica Sacred Calendar

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) recently added the Mexican Count of Days for the Year 13 House by Kurly Tlapowaya and Ruben Ochoa to its Centralized List of Disapproved Publications. This decision bans the Mexica sacred calendar from prison libraries and inmate access. For many, this is more than just a book ban—it is a direct attack on cultural identity and spiritual practice inside prison walls.

Xochitl, a former inmate and founder of Fuego Sagrado Botanica, has experienced this discrimination firsthand. Her story reveals the deep challenges faced by incarcerated Nahua people who seek to maintain their spiritual traditions. Despite the ban, she is determined to fight back and raise awareness about spiritual discrimination in California prisons.

Ruben Ochoa presents his research on the Tonalpohualli, including the Humboldt Fragment, at The College of the Sequoias.

The Impact of the Ban on Incarcerated People

The Mexica sacred calendar, also known as the Tonalpohualli, is a vital part of Nahua spirituality and cultural identity. It connects people to their ancestors, guides spiritual practices, and offers a framework for understanding time and life cycles. Banning this calendar cuts off incarcerated individuals from an essential part of their heritage.

Xochitl’s experience highlights the consequences of discrimination. While incarcerated, she faced discrimination for reading and writing in Nahuatl, the language of her ancestors. She was placed in a gang unit in Los Angeles County Jail simply for engaging with her culture. This kind of treatment is not isolated to just LASD; it reflects a broader pattern of spiritual discrimination within the jail and prison system.

Fuego Sagrado Botanica’s Role in Cultural Education

After her release, Xochitl founded Fuego Sagrado Botanica, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting discrimination against Nahua people. The organization works with men and women inside prisons and runs a correspondence program teaching basic Nahuatl and the fundamentals of the Tonalpohualli calendar.

With over 200 students enrolled in California prisons, Fuego Sagrado Botanica has created a space for cultural education and spiritual connection. This program helps incarcerated people reclaim their identity and find strength through their spirituality, which can be a powerful tool for healing and personal growth.

Educational texts on ancient wisdom and healing, forming the curriculum for Fuego Sagrado Botanica's prison correspondence course in California.

Fighting the Ban and Raising Awareness

The ban on the Mexica sacred calendar is a setback, but Xochitl is committed to challenging it. She plans to take the issue to the highest levels of the California prison system and beyond. Her goal is to expose the spiritual discrimination that many incarcerated people face and to advocate for their right to access cultural and spiritual materials.

This fight is about more than one calendar or one book. It is about recognizing the importance of spiritual freedom and cultural respect inside prisons. It also calls attention to the broader issue of how prison policies can suppress minority cultures and spiritual practices.

Maria Lacy at the Tonalpohualli conference at College of the Sequoias, proudly displaying a publication on the Aztec calendar. Maria Lacy is Jennifer Xochitl Lacy's mother, who is originally from Mexico and of indigenous ancestry.

Why Spiritual Freedom Matters in Prisons

Spirituality often provides incarcerated people with hope, purpose, and a sense of identity. It can support rehabilitation and reduce recidivism by helping individuals build inner strength and resilience. Denying access to spiritual materials like the Mexica sacred calendar undermines these benefits and perpetuates discrimination.

Programs like those offered by Fuego Sagrado Botanica demonstrate how cultural education can positively impact incarcerated people. They foster community, encourage self-expression, and help individuals reconnect with their roots. Protecting these programs and materials is essential for a fair and humane prison system.

Homework from an incarcerated individual at CCWF, exploring Nahuatl day-signs and calendar concepts based on Ruben Ochoa's research, lies next to "A Mexican Count of Days" calendar for 2025-2026.

Moving Forward: What Can Be Done

• Support organizations like Fuego Sagrado Botanica that provide cultural education and spiritual support to incarcerated people.

• Raise awareness about spiritual discrimination in prisons through community outreach, social media, and advocacy.

• Encourage prison officials to review and revise policies that unfairly restrict access to cultural and spiritual materials.

• Engage legal and human rights groups to challenge bans that violate religious freedom and cultural rights.

• Promote dialogue between incarcerated people, advocates, and prison administrators to find respectful solutions.

  
  

The ban on the Mexica sacred calendar is a clear example of how spiritual discrimination persists in the prison system. By standing with those affected and demanding change, we can help ensure that all incarcerated people have the right to connect with their culture and spirituality.

To help us raise awareness or get involved, please email Xochitl at Xochitl@fsbotanica.com