INDIGENOUS GROUPS OF OAXACA: GENERAL DATA - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The indigenous groups of Oaxaca are the Zapotecs, Mixtecos, Mixes, Triquis, Chinantecos, Chantinos, Huaves, Mazatecos, Nahuas, Amuzgos, Zoques, Chontales, Cuicatecos, Chocholtecos, Ixcatecos, Tacuates and Tzotziles.

Oaxaca is the state of Mexico that has the largest group of indigenous people. According to the National Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples, also known as the National Indigenous Institute, at least 17 ethnic groups live in this region.

According to the National Institute of Geography, Statistics and Informatics of Mexico, the indigenous groups of Oaxaca occupy 32 percent of the total population of the state, which in figures represents one million inhabitants.

General data on the indigenous groups of Oaxaca

The indigenous groups of Oaxaca have inhabited this territory for several centuries. Most of these ethnic groups share customs but also have a particular identity that has allowed their classification and identification.

Language

The distinctive aspect that the Mexican government used to identify the indigenous groups of Oaxaca was their language.

This means that there are also 18 languages ​​and several different dialects that are still spoken alongside Spanish today.

The existence of this multiplicity of languages ​​can be identified, for example, in the place names of the state, and by which, in addition, the origin of the various aboriginal groups can be located.

Zapotec and Mixtec

The Zapotecs represent the largest number of indigenous people in Oaxaca. Their language is from the Ottomangue group and has 14 different dialects. In second place are the Mixtecs or ñ uu Sávi (people of the rain) in their original language.

It is estimated that 247,000 people speak the Mixtec language, this data is not surprising because this ethnic group is also the fourth largest in all of Mexico.

Mazatecos

Among the 17 indigenous groups, the Mazatecos also stand out, who unfortunately lost their identity as a group when the Mexican government forced about 20,000 families from this community to move from their territory.

Chinantec

The same fate suffered the Chinantecs, who had to displace about 26,000 of their inhabitants. Fortunately, the latter managed to maintain their ties as an ethnic group.

Mixes

The Mixes, for example, are known to be one of the indigenous groups that could not be eradicated by the Spanish conquerors, because their location in the mountainous area of ​​Sierra Norte made it impossible for them to be attacked militarily.

It was from the evangelization of Catholicism that the Spanish were able to dominate and integrate the Mixtecs into colonial life.

Customs and traditions

Many of the original customs and traditions of indigenous groups have been lost or camouflaged with the strong Spanish culture that conquered and dominated them. Some that are still preserved give us an idea of ​​what his life was like several centuries ago.

Mixtecs, for example, believe in marriage based on the payment of the dowry, being the parents who decide who will marry their children.

The Amuzgos believe in evil spirits and the Cuicatecos in chanecos (mischievous spirits) and pixies.

For most indigenous groups, the beliefs that there are deities or forces linked to nature, such as wind, thunder and rain, still prevail today.

Figures such as shamans or sorcerers are those who allow the communication bridge to be kept active to obtain the favors of said forces.

References

1. Zolla, C; Zolla –Márquez, E. (2004). The indigenous peoples of Mexico: one hundred questions. Mexico: UNAM. Retrieved on November 9, 2017 from: books.google.es
2. Terraciano, K. (2001). The mixtecs of colonial Oaxaca. Los Angeles: Stanford University Press. Retrieved on November 9, 2017 from: books.google.es
3. Mariñelarena, J. (nd). Consequences of colonialist practices in the Oaxacan Indigenous culture and society. Munich: Universität München. Retrieved on November 9, 2017 from: mufm.fr
4. Ramírez, A. (sf). Legends of Oaxaca. Retrieved on November 9, 2017 from: magazines.upb.edu.co
5. Basauri, C. (1990). The indigenous population of Mexico. Mexico: National Council for Culture and the Arts. Retrieved on November 9, 2017 from: books.google.es