Indigenous peoples Oaxaca

1 indigenous peoples

1.1 zapotecs
1.2 mixtecs
1.3 mazatecos
1.4 mixe
1.5 other

indigenous peoples

demographically, oaxaca stands out due high percentage of indigenous peoples. estimated @ least third speakers of indigenous languages (with 50% not able speak spanish), accounting 53% of mexico s total indigenous language speaking population. state straddles 2 mesoamerican cultural areas. first extends state mayan lands of chiapas, yucatan , guatemala. northeast of state part of cultures of valley of mexico, historical influence seen ancient cities such teotihuacan, tula , tenochtitlan.

the main reason indigenous languages , cultures have been able survive here rugged terrain, isolate communities. has effect of dividing state small secluded communities, have developed independently on time. there 16 ethno linguistic groups recognized instituto nacional indigenista maintain individual languages, customs , traditions colonial period , extent present day. however, studies put number of cultures in state high 4,000. makes oaxaca ethnically complex of mexico s 31 states.

the populous indigenous groups in oaxaca zapotec or mixtec. several other languages of oto-manguean languages spoken in oaxaca: triques, amuzgos , cuicatecs linguistically closely related mixtecs, languages of chocho, popoloca , ixcatec peoples closely related of mazatecs. chatino language grouped zapotecan branch of oto-manguean. languages of zoque , mixe peoples belong mixe–zoquean languages. other ethnic groups include chontalees, chinantecs, huaves , nahuas. of 2005, total of 1,091,502 people counted speaking indigenous language.

zapotecs

the largest indigenous group in state zapotecs @ 350,000 people or 31% of total indigenous population. zapotec have extremely long history in central valleys region , unlike other indigenous groups, not have migration story. them, have been here. zapotecs have called ena a, means people. zapotec territory extends in , around central valleys region of state, around capital city of oaxaca. zapotec language has historically been , still spoken in state, 4 dialects correspond 4 subdivisions of these people: central valleys , isthmus, sierra de ixtlan, villa alta , coapan. zapotec communities can found in 67 municipalities. various zapotec dialects account 64 of total 173 still surviving forms of oto-manguean.

mixtecs

mannequin of woman in mixtec dress

the second largest group mixtecs @ on 240,000 people or 27% of indigenous population. these people established in northwest of oaxaca , far southern puebla on 3,000 years ago, making them 1 of oldest communities in region. these same people put pressure on zapotec kingdoms until spanish conquered both peoples in 16th century. mixtec territory divided 3 sub regions. upper mixteca covers 38 municipalities , populated region. lower mixteca includes 31 municipalities. coastal mixtecs small group. today, mixtecs call Ñuu savi, people of rain. mixtecan language family, 1 of largest , diverse families in oto-manguean group, includes 3 groups of languages: mixtec, cuicatec, , trique.

mazatecos

the mazatecos number @ 165,000 or 15% of oaxaca s indigenous population. (perfil soc) these people occupy northernmost area of state, in upper sierra madre oriental mountains , papaloapan basin. mazatecos call ha shuta enima, means people of custom. historians believe mazatecos descend nonoalca-chichimecas, migrated south tula in 12th century. while live in oaxaca, significant number of mazatecos occupy veracruz , puebla.

popoloca woman

the chinantecos account 10% of oaxaca s indigenous people, numbering @ 104,000. inhabit chinantla region of north central oaxaca near border of veracruz. chinanteco language has many 14 different dialects , part of oto-manguean linguistic group. historians believe living in region struggled maintain independence against sudden , numerous attacks zapotecs, mixtecs, mixes , aztecs. latter, led moctezuma i, conquered chinantla region during 15th century.

mixe

the mixe people account 10% of indigenous population @ on 103,000 people. mixe isolated group in northeastern part of state, close border of veracruz. region includes 19 municipalities , 108 communities. mixes call ayuuk, means people. unknown mixe migrated from, speculating far peru, arrived in waves 1300 1533. came conflict mixtecs , zapotecs, allied zapotecs against aztecs, resisted spanish. mixe language has 7 dialects , group has highest rate of monolingualism (36% of speakers in year 2000) of indigenous group in mexico.

other

minorities include chatino (42,477), trique (18,292), huave people (15,324), cuicatecos (12,128), zoque, called aiyuuk (roughly 10,000), amuzgos (4,819), chontales of oaxaca (4,610), tacuates (1,725), chocho or chocholtec (524), ixcatecos (207), popolocas (61) , small population of nahuatl speaking peoples in border area puebla.