The ethnic groups of Sinaloa, at present, are the Mayo, Nahuatl, Tarahumara and Mixtec. The foregoing is clear from the data provided by the Mexican population and housing census carried out in 2010.
It can be said that, of these, the original indigenous group are the Mayo. The Mayo, in turn, come from a population of indigenous tribes that inhabited the northwestern coast of Mexico along the Sinaloa, Fuerte, Mayo and Yaqui rivers.
Collectively they were known as the cahita. They spoke 18 closely related dialects of the Cahita language or linguistic group, which belongs to the Uto-Aztec family. By the 20th century, the only two surviving tribes in the 20th century were the Yaqui and the Mayo.
The four main ethnic groups of Sinaloa
May 1
This indigenous population is mainly centered in the north of Sinaloa and in the south of the state of Sonora.
During the Spanish conquest, this tribe initially allied with the Spanish to fight a common enemy: the Yaqui.
Later they rebelled, due to the fact that their lands were constantly invaded by the peninsular. Around 1880 there was a pacification process.
At present, the members of this ethnic group of Sinaloa are distributed in five municipalities of the state, sharing their territory with mestizos.
These reside, preferably, near their ceremonial centers. Many practice agricultural activities such as agriculture and livestock.
2- Nahuatl
Nahuatl speakers in Mexico are part of the large Uto-Aztec language group that inhabited many parts of central and northern Mexico, and much of the American Southwest.
This language, the most common of this linguistic group, is spoken in at least fifteen Mexican states.
In fact, the Nahuatl-speaking peoples are the largest ethnic group in the country. Nahua or Nahuatl is the generic name for peoples who speak dialects of the Aztec language. The Nahuas usually refer to themselves and their language as "Mexican."
3- Tarahumara
The Tarahumara are originally from the state of Chihuahua. According to its oral tradition, its origins are more to the east. But, after several migrations, they settled in that Mexican state.
This tribe lived mainly from hunting and gathering. In the 15th century they were able to repel the invasion attempt by the Aztecs. However, they did not suffer the same fate during the Spanish conquest.
These days, they are a vibrant culture, although quite reserved. Its members have adopted many of the Spanish and Mexican traditions, but they also retain many of their pre-Hispanic influences.
4- Mixtec
The Mixtecs, before colonial times, were one of the great Mesoamerican civilizations. They built great old centers like Tilantongo.
In the same way, they built great works in the ancient city of Monte Albán. This tribe lived in the territories that today make up the states of Oaxaca, Guerrero and Puebla.
On the other hand, the term Mixtec comes from the Nahuatl Mixtecapan, which means "place of the people of the clouds."
Mixtecs call themselves "ñuu savi," "ñuu davi," "ñuu djau," and others, depending on the local language variant.
References
- INEGI. Population and Housing Census 2010. (2011). Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from beta.inegi.org.mx.
- Cahita. (2007, June 25). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from britannica.com.
- May. (1998, July 20). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from
- Indigenous Sinaloa (2012, May 07). Government of Sinaloa. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from sinaloa.gob.mx.
- Minahan, J. (2013). Ethnic Groups of the Americas: An Encyclopedia. California: ABC-CLIO.
- Martin, C. (2016). Latin America and Its People. Content Technology.
- Schmal, JP (2004). The Aztecs are alive and well: The Náhuatl Language in México. At Houston Institute for Culture. Retrieved on September 27, 2017, from houstonculture.org.
- Nahua peoples. (s / f). In Countries and their cultures. Retrieved on September 27, 2017, from everyculture.com.