For your convenience, listed below are missionary and secular links to information about the area and peoples that Mexico Medical Missions serves. Be advised that while many of the secular websites have a distinct bias against the Christian influence in the Copper Canyon region, these sources can provide useful travel and background information. It is interesting to note how often the secular websites (especially those profiting from tourism) promulgate an idyllic image of the Tarahumara as a happy and healthy indigenous people living an Eden-like life. In our experience at Mexico Medical Missions, this is a blatant and dangerous fiction.

While it is, indeed, true that the Tarahumara are a beautiful and unique people, hunger is their constant companion, alcoholism is common, medical care is poor to nonexistent, and the Tarahumara belief system (a blend of apostate Christianity and ancient superstitious tradition) causes them to live in fear of evil sprits and a vengeful god. With the love of Jesus, we seek to remedy these peoples' dire circumstance—both in the physical and spiritual realms.

Online Publications

GreatAdventures.com A secular travel site with an excellent overview of Copper Canyon.

Remarkable Journeys This site sells tours, and has a complete page of information.

MexicoOnline Brief info page about Tarahumara.

 

Books

Mexico's Sierra Tarahumara, a Photohistory, by W. Dirk Raat. Tarahumara history.

Tarahumara: Where Night is the Day of the Moon, by Bernard Fontana. Photos of Tarahumara life.

Mexico's Copper Canyon, by Richard D. Fisher. Informational guide with photographs.

Guide to Mexico's Copper Canyon, by Richard Gordon. Facts and a smattering of Spanish.

Northern Mexico Handbook, by Joe Cummings. A good "big-picture" guide to the Sierra region.