A jacal is considered a hut or a shelter house in connection with the indigenous people of Mexico and the Spanish colonial structures. These types of jacals can be found in the Southwest and Mexico. A jacal can be made with wood poles or sticks, plastered with mud or adobe, and straws. The roof can be made out of straw, rushes, and sticks. This shelter was and is still common in rural areas in Mexico. 

Corn is a staple food in Mexico given its rich history and connection with Mesoamerica; it has become part of our everyday diet. I grew up eating corn in my daily meals, surrounded by family, friends, and community. Making this jacal/shelter house made me think of the connection to my culture and the importance of maintaining ties to our heritage through hands-on practices. Just as corn has been the foundation of Mesoamerican life for thousands of years, nourishing bodies, bringing families together at the table, and sustaining entire communities.