TEPEHUANES: CHARACTERISTICS, DIET, LANGUAGE, CUSTOMS - HISTORY - 2025

The Tepehuanes are indigenous natives of the territories that today make up the Mexican Republic. Depending on their geographical location, two groups are distinguished: those from the north (Chihuahua) and those from the south (Durango, Nayarit and Jalisco). Those who inhabit the north call themselves the o'dami, which in their native language means people. For their part, those from the south call themselves the o'dam (those who inhabit).

In the Nahuatl language, Tepehuanes is a composition of the word tepetl (hill) and the possessive particle hua. This combination translates to: people from the hills.

Family of Tepehuanes,, Durango, 1893, Lumholtz, Carl

According to some Spanish historians, the Tepehuanos from the north and south belonged to the same group. The Tepehuana nation occupied a large area of ​​the state of Durango.

These same historians estimate that this north-south separation could have occurred in the seventeenth century. However, others consider that it may have happened before the arrival of the Spanish.

In general, the first contacts of the Tepehuanes with the colonizers were reported at the end of the 16th century. It is then that the mining operations begin in their occupied areas.

The Tepehuanes were heavily exploited in the mines. In reaction to this mistreatment, they resisted and rose up on many occasions, which caused the conquerors to classify them as warlike.

characteristics

Differences between southern and northern Tepehuanes

Despite the fact that both Tepehuane groups share common roots, they present differences between them at the same time. These differences are manifested in their language, dress, social organization and religion. Similarly, there are differences in their ideas and beliefs about the world, and other aspects of their daily life and culture.

Similarities between southern and northern Tepehuanes

A common trait between these two groups is their attachment to the land and their cultural heritage. This caused that in the past they opposed resistance against the Spanish colonizers.

This resistance resulted in armed rebellions that began in the 16th century and continued into the 17th. Today they still have a reputation for being quarrelsome.

Difficult access to their lands

Another characteristic shared by both groups is the difficult access to the settlement areas. This makes medical-health care difficult for the government.

As a consequence, nowadays both formal and ancestral medicines coexist in their health practices.

"Cleanings" with eagle feathers, tobacco smoke for purification and therapeutic bleeding are part (along with formal medicines) of the recipe book used against the most common ailments in the community.

Feeding

Tepehuanos, both those located in Chihuahua and Durango, have a common food base. This comes from hunting, fishing and agricultural activities. There are several traditional dishes in your diet. Among them are tortillas, beans, potatoes with cheese, tomatillo (or tomato) stews, and eggs.

In addition, hunting activities incorporate deer, rabbit, armadillo, among others, into their dishes. As a result of their fishing activities, they consume river trout, catfish and shrimp. They also take advantage of meat from poultry, goats, pigs and cattle.

Similarly, they eat local specialties such as bags of strawberry tree (butterfly worms) in broth and roasted bee larvae. Flowers are also on the menu: boiled poppies, mezcal flowers, and palm flowers.

The leaves of the pea plant are eaten fried in lard. To this list must be added numerous types of mushrooms (red, car trunk, oak ear).

Language

The Tepehuanes speak two closely related languages. Both belong to the Piman branch of the Uto-Aztec (or Yutonahuas) language family.

The language of the southern Tepehuanes has two variants: Eastern Tepehuano and Western Tepehuan. In some radio stations in the state of Chihuahua you can listen to some transmissions in northern Tepehuano.

Clothing

Typically, male and female Tepehuans wear commercially made clothing. However, they still wear their traditional clothes on special occasions, such as parties and celebrations.

mens

For its part, the traditional clothing of Tepehuane men is very simple. In general, it resembles the clothing of Mexican peasants.

The suit consists of a long-sleeved shirt and shorts (a kind of wide-leg pants), both made of blanket fabric. The ends of the sleeves and the pants are decorated with stitching made with colored threads.

This outfit is completed by a wide-brimmed palm hat, a scarf tied around the neck, and typical sandals called huaraches.

Women

On the other hand, the women's costume is quite colorful. The feminine garments consist of a satin blouse, skirt and apron. These are decorated with lace and colored ribbons. They also wear a black lace shawl and huaraches.

Customs and traditions

In terms of traditions and customs, the Tepehuanes of the north and south follow different cultural patterns. Those from the south follow the cultural tradition of the region known as Gran Nayar, while those from the north follow those of the Sierra Tarahumara region.

For example, one of the customs where this cultural difference is evident is in the construction of their houses. The Tepehuanes of the north build their homes with the participation of all members of the community.

In contrast, in the south this is an individual practice. The northern Tepehuanos organize tesgüinados to motivate community participation in the activity. Tesgüino is a beer made from corn.

As for the festivities, the same phenomenon occurs. For example, only the southern Tepehuanos celebrate the elote tierno (tender corn) festival in early October. This is a non-Christian celebration to celebrate the success of the harvest.

Religion

Both the northern and southern Tepehuanos profess a religion that is a mixture of popular Roman Catholicism and native elements. In general, the official Roman Catholic sacraments are followed more strictly by the Tepehuanos of the north than by those of the south.

In both regions, God, Jesus, the Virgin Mary and the saints mingle in native pantheons alongside figures like the God of the Deer, mountain spirits and the Morning Star. The latter is known as "our older brother."

Unlike the Tepehuanes of the north, those of the south celebrate the Christian holy days of Easter, the Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe (December 12), Christmas and days of the village saints.

For both groups, the figure of the shamans is vital. These function as spiritual guides, they are the directors of the sacred ceremonies and they exercise the rectory during the festivals. Also, they are the healers of their community.

References

1. Encyclopædia Britannica. (1998, July 20). Tepehuan. Retrieved on February 2, 2018, from britannica.com.
2. Gonzalez Elizondo, M. (1991). Ethnobotany of the Southern Tepehuan. of Durango, Mexico: I. Edible Mushrooms. Ethnobiol. 11 (2), pp. 165-173.
3. Reyes, A. (s / f). The Foods of the Gods: The Culinary Tradition of the Tepehuanes of Southern Durango. INAH Durango Center, pp. 59-79.
4. National Network of Cultural Information. (2008, October 20). Retrieved on February 2, 2002 from sic.gob.mx.
5. Ager, S. (s / f). Tepehuán (O'otham). Retrieved on February 2, 2018, from omniglot.com.
6. Scheffler, L. (1992). The indigenous Mexicans: geographical location, social and political organization, economy, religion and customs. Mexico City: Editorial Panorama.
7. Saucedo Sánchez De Tagle, ER (2004). North Tepehuanes. Mexico: CDI.
8. National Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples. (2017, June 01). Tepehuanes del Sur - O'dam de Durango. Retrieved on February 2, 2018, from gob.mx.
9. Countries and their culture. (s / f). Tepehuan of Durango - Religion and Expressive Culture. Retrieved on February 2, 2018, from everyculture.com.