The ethnic groups of Puebla are the Mixtec, Nahuatl, Otomí, Popoloca, Tepehua and Totonac peoples. According to an official census done in 2010, 11% of the population of that entity speaks some indigenous language.
According to archaeological evidence, the Puebla region in the Tehuacán Valley was the place where the first human beings settled in the territory of Mexico.
This happened around 10,000 BC. In the Mesoamerican period, other groups such as the Mixtecs, Nahuas, Popolocas and even the Aztecs made this territory their home.
The top 6
1- Mixtec
The Mixtecos are among one of the most modern ethnic groups in Puebla. However, they have a rich ancient history. They were one of the most important groups in the Mesoamerican period.
At that time, they occupied the western region of the state of Oaxaca and part of the states of Puebla and Guerrero.
They stood out for their excellence in the manufacture of works of art in metalwork, jewelry and in the decoration of vessels.
2- Nahuas
The Nahuas or Nahuatl are one of the most numerous ethnic groups in Puebla. They are currently an agricultural town, and among their main crops are corn, beans, chili, tomato and squash.
Maguey, sugar cane, rice, and coffee are also common. In the same way, they are dedicated to raising chickens, turkeys, pigs and goats.
In general, its settlements are divided into four sections grouped around a central church.
On the other hand, the main art of both men and women of this ethnic group is cotton and wool weaving.
The former usually weave on the European vertical loom; women do it more often on the native strap loom.
The Nahua use the fibers of the maguey plant to make the cloths and sacks they use. They also practice the art of ceramics, the weaving of palm fiber and the manufacture of adobe bricks.
3- Otomí
The Otomí are believed to have been the original inhabitants of the central highlands of the Mexican nation. But the Nahua were gradually displacing and marginalizing them.
This indigenous people was one of the first complex cultures in the Mesoamerican region. Like most sedentary peoples, they lived on corn, beans, and squash.
During the period of the Spanish conquest, the Otomí tribe established alliances with the peninsular, managing to extend their territories.
Today many Otomí populations maintain pre-Hispanic beliefs. They even practice shamanism.
4- Popolocas
There is a very common confusion between the terms popoloca and popoluca. These are different, although both refer to indigenous languages of the Mexican Republic.
Actually, the first one refers to a group of languages of the Ottoman language, which are spoken in the state of Puebla.
The second word is used to designate some languages of the Mixe-Zoque family, spoken in the southern part of the state of Veracruz.
Popoloca is a Nahuatl word that refers to a bubbly sound. The Nahuatl used it to connote those languages they did not understand.
5- Tepehuas
The word Tepehua refers both to an indigenous ethnic group and to a set of related languages. In Nahuatl it means "owner of the mountains."
Historically the Tepehua peoples were located in the Gulf of Mexico and La Huaxteca.
In the state of Puebla, particularly, the Tepehuas languages are spoken in the municipalities. These are also spoken in the Mexican states of Veracruz and Hidalgo.
6- Totonacas
The Totonacs are located in the northern highlands of the state of Puebla, in addition to Veracruz. This culture is a faithful follower of its traditions and customs.
Despite this, the force exerted by mestizo cultures has caused the decline of the Totonac indigenous populations. Thus, with the passing of time, they have lost their language and much of their cultural wealth.
References
- Olguín, I. (2014, August, 09). Indigenous people of Puebla are concentrated in 6 groups. In UNIÓN Puebla. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from unionpuebla.mx
- INEGI. Population and Housing Census 2010. (2011). Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from beta.inegi.org.mx
- Puebla. (s / f). In Go Gringo. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from gogringo.com.
- Maestri, N. (2017, February. 16). The Mixtec - Ancient Culture of Southern Mexico. At ThoughtCo. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from thoughtco.com
- Nahua. (2008, July 23) Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from britannica.com
- Hñähñu: the Otomies (2014, April 30). In Indigenous Peoples' Literature. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from indigenouspeople.net
- Confusion in the use of the names "popoloca" and "popoluca" (s / f). In SIL, Mexico. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from mexico.sil.org
- Tepehuas (2006, December 05). In Mexico Cultural Information System. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from sic.gob.mx
- Bautista Salazar, MA (2005, October 18). Totonac culture. Retrieved on September 26, 2017, from culturatotonaca.blogspot.com