- The 5 main ethnic groups of Oaxaca
- 1- The Zapotecs
- 2- The Mixtecs
- 3- The Mazatecs
- 4- The Chinantecs
- 5- The mixes
- References
The ethnic groups of Oaxaca are the most numerous nationwide. Among them are the Zapotecs, Mixtecos, Mazatecos, Chinantecos and the Mixes. The Mexican state of Oaxaca is one of the most ethnically diverse.
The population and housing census carried out in 2010 shows that 34% of the population speaks an indigenous language in this state.
Most of the indigenous people are dedicated to agriculture in order to survive. In addition to the above, the Amuzgo, Cuicateco, Chatino, Chocholteco, Chontal, Huave, Ixcatec, Nahuatl, Triqui and Zoque are indigenous peoples.
This territory is also inhabited by an Afro-American people and various ethnic, cultural and linguistic regroups, such as the Tacuates.
The 5 main ethnic groups of Oaxaca
1- The Zapotecs
Of the ethnic groups in Oaxaca, the Zapotecs are the most numerous ethnic group. Nationally, they occupy the third position behind the Nahuatl and the Mayans. They are found throughout the width and length of this state.
This indigenous group does not have a homogeneous culture, even the Zapotec language has many variants. Because their dialect differences are so significant, they use Spanish as a lingua franca.
2- The Mixtecs
The Mixtecs refer to themselves as the «ñuu savi», which means people of the rain in the Mixtec language. They are the second of the ethnic groups in Oaxaca, in terms of number of inhabitants.
This indigenous town is distributed towards the west of the state, in the territory that borders Puebla and Guerrero. But there are also numerous groups in other states of the country, and even in the United States.
On the other hand, the Mixtec language belongs to the Ottoman languages. Like the other languages of this family, it is a tonal language. The six dialects that are officially recognized so far are spread over various geographic locations.
3- The Mazatecs
This ethnic group lives in the north of the state, specifically in the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Papaloapan Basin.
The Mazatecs refer to themselves as Ha shuta enima; In their language this means "those of us who work in the mountains, humble, ordinary people."
Some historians estimate that the Mazatecs descended from the Nonoalca-Chichimecas, who migrated south of Tula in the early 12th century.
In recent decades, the Mazatec Indians have represented one of the largest linguistic groups in Oaxaca. A significant number of Mazatecos also live in the states of Veracruz and Puebla.
4- The Chinantecs
The Chinantecs currently occupy the Chinantla region, in north-central Oaxaca, near the Veracruz border.
Their language is part of the Ottomangue language group, and up to 14 different dialects are distinguished.
North of Oaxaca, a divergent variety of the language is spoken. Its speakers call themselves Dsa jmii, which translates to "plains people."
Between 1970 and 2000, the number of speakers of Chinantec increased dramatically to 104,010, equivalent to 9.28% of the total indigenous population of this entity.
5- The mixes
The Mixes are an isolated ethnic group that inhabits the northeastern part of Oaxaca, near the border with Veracruz.
Some historians believe that Mixe tribes may have migrated from present-day Peru in search of Zempoaltepetl, a pagan god, and the hill of twenty gods. Another theory affirms that they came from the tropical zone of the Gulf of Mexico.
Although their origin is not entirely clear, it is known that they reached this state in different waves, between 1294 and 1533.
Immediately, they faced the Mixtec and the Zapotec. Later, they allied with the Zapotecs against the Aztecs. They also harshly resisted the Spanish during the time of the conquest.
References
- Oaxaca (2013, July 10). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from britannica.com.
- Population and Housing Census 2010. (2011). INEGI. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from beta.inegi.org.mx.
- Oaxaca has the greatest ethnic diversity in Mexico. (2015, January 01). In NTR. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from ntrzacatecas.com.
- Ethnic groups of Oaxaca. (2009, January 15). In Linguateca. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from linguateca.pt.
- Schmal, JP (s / f). Oaxaca: a land of diversity. At Houston Institute for Culture. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from houstonculture.org.
- Espinosa, RA (2013). Mazatecos. Institute of Social Research. UNAM. Retrieved on September 27, 2017, from ru.iis.sociales.unam.mx.