A Journey for Generations

Monarchs are the only butterfly species that complete a two-way migration, traveling from central Mexico to the northern United States and Canada, then back again in the fall.

“Among Indigenous groups rooted in the regions of Mexico where monarchs appear, there are many legends and myths that tie the butterflies to the souls of ancestors, believing that they live on through nature and the environment,” says Joel Perez-Castaneda, Southern Lake Michigan Rim project director with The Nature Conservancy in Indiana. The butterfly’s return to Mexico coincides with Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. Artistic representations of monarchs are incorporated into altars honoring former generations, and celebrations often include people dancing in monarch costumes.

Despite this affection for the insects, monarch populations have decreased by more than 80% since the 1990s.

Monarch larvae feed on milkweed, which gives them a bitter taste that repels predators. But land in their migration corridor has been developed and converted for agriculture, meaning less milkweed and more pesticides. The ancient, complex choreography of birth, death and movement across thousands of miles could be further interrupted by climate change. Shifts in temperature cue monarchs to move; if it is too warm during spring, they might migrate farther north, meaning a longer trip back to their winter home.

Love along the way

In 2018, The Nature Conservancy worked alongside partners to organize the Festival de la Monarca (Monarch Festival), which has become an anticipated event every year when the butterflies are migrating through northwest Indiana on their southbound journey. “Northwest Indiana has a vibrant Mexican community made up of people who moved here from Mexican states such as Michoacán where monarchs overwinter,” says Joel, “so we wondered if we could get the community engaged in conservation.”

The celebration features educational activities for people of all ages, as well as food, music, art and dance. About 800 people attended in 2025, and according to Marino Solorio, director of East Chicago Parks and Recreation, planning for 2026 is underway. “The festival is a fun way to share information about monarchs and other pollinators, inspire people to plant native flowers and milkweed, and promote cultural connections,” says Marino.

Marino, who has been involved in planning the event from the beginning, says, “This is a festival with a purpose. I always go and wear my butterfly cape. I guess I’m the monarch man!”