Veronica Raya is a senior fellow at the Center for Earth Ethics. An Indigenous elder from Central Mexico, Veronica identifies as a Mesoamerican native of Mexica and Purepecha-Otomi peoples. Raya will support CEE’s local community relations and ceremonial work as well as other aspects of our founding cornerstone commitment to Indigenous Values, Wisdom and Rights.

Veronica is a spiritual leader who carries forward practices rooted in her lineage. She is a long-standing member of Cetiliztli Nauhcampa Quetzalcoatl in Ixachitlan (Group of the Four Directions on the East of the Continent), an Indigenous collective that has been practicing Mexika/Aztec traditions through ceremonial songs, drumming and dance in the New York area for more than 25 years. 

Veronica’s work embodies the interconnectedness of nature, community and spirituality through prayer and action. Her dedication to preserving and sharing these traditions is an expression of her commitment to foster harmony between humanity and the natural world.