Natalia Toledo


Natalia Toledo Paz is a Mexican poet who writes in Spanish and Zapotec. Her work helped to revive interest in the Zapotec language. Ida Kozlowska-Day states that Toledo is "one of the most recognized contemporary poets in the native languages of Mexico."

Early life and education

Toledo Paz was born in Juchitán de Zaragoza, Oaxaca. She is daughter of the painter Francisco Toledo and sister of Dr Lakra. Until she was seven and moved to Mexico City, Toledo Paz lived in a community where Zapotec was the main language spoken. Toledo Paz has been writing since she was young. Toledo Paz studied in Casa de la Cultura de Juchitán and Sociedad General de Escritores de México.

Career

Toledo Paz's writing has been concerned with women and their relationship to the environment. Her writing, along with other writers' use of the Zapotec language in their work, has helped boost demand in Mexico to make indigenous cultures more visible. Toledo Paz enjoys using the Zapotec language because she feels that it has "a great aesthetic sensibility for creating images and beauty."
Toledo Paz has also collaborated with her father, Francisco, to create children's stories, such as Light Foot/Pies ligeros.
Toledo Paz has been a fellow of Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes , and Fondo Estatal para la Cultura y las Artes de Oaxaca .
She is the president of Patronato de la Casa de la Cultura de Juchitán.

Selected works