Mixtec (Mexico)

Mixtec History

Geography & Agriculture

The Mixtec region includes the Western parts of Oaxaca and neighboring parts of Puebla and Guerrero. There are three zones that form the Mixtec region: Mixtec Alta (High Mixteca) that has an elevation ranging between 2500 and 2000 meters, Mixteca Baja (Low Mixteca) that has an elevation between 1700 and 1500 meters, and Mixteca de la Costa (Mixtec Coast) along the Pacific coast. Indigenous people arrived to this area 2,500 years ago and developed the Mixtec culture. Because of the diverse geography in the Mixtec region, the Mixtec people could produce and exchange coastal items, such as cotton, salt, and exotic animals, as well as maize, beans, chile, metals and stones from the mountainous areas.  Although Mixteca was originally a fertile area used to grow vegetables such as corn, beans and squash, the lands have now undergone erosion, causing problems with vegetable growth. To make a living in other ways, many Mixtecs weave palm leaves into hats, mats, and baskets, which are sold to tourists. Wages earned from these sales are minimal and have forced many Mixtec people to emigrate to more agriculturally rich environments, such as Mexico City, Oaxaca, other large cities in Mexico, and the United States.

Political History

Mixtec society was originally organized in independent political groups called kingdoms. A king, who was the supreme governor and the leader of the army, ruled each kingdom. The kingdoms would communicate through alliances, wars, and marriages. This political organization reached its peak when the Mixtecs expanded their territory to the Central Valley of Oaxaca. Soon after their expansion, the Aztec Empire became a powerful threat to the indigenous people throughout Southern Mexico. In the 1450’s, the Aztec armies entered into the Valley of Oaxaca and the Mixtecs fought to keep their land and trade routes. After many battles, the Aztecs conquered over the Mixtecs in 1458. The Mixtecs continued to work the land and paid tributes to their new rulers, the Aztecs. The Aztec rule, however, only remained until 1521 when the Spaniards arrived from the Gulf of Mexico.  Spaniards conquered and devastated much of the indigenous Mexican empires through battle and disease. They also brought horses and plows to Mexico, which disturbed the soil and natural growth of the area. Mixteca became geographically distressed, putting an end to agriculture. While the Mixtecs were being forced to leave their land from lack of work, the agricultural industry in the United States was searching for new workers. In 1942, to cover World War II labor shortages, the U.S. created the Bracero Program, which caused a wave of indigenous Mexicans to travel to the U.S. These numbers increased even more in the 70’s and 80’s, when indigenous families, such as the Mixtecs, were able to legalize their American status through the 1986 Immigration and Reform Act. Currently, many Mixtec people still work in the agriculture industry, but there is also a growing middle class (e.g. teachers, government workers, technicians, politicians, and health workers).

Culture

Mixtec Art

Mixtec culture is noted by its distinct style of dance and artwork. Researchers came to this area and examined cave drawings and scrolls, which depicted rich historical stories. The scrolls are now in the British Museum and National Library in Venice. The Mixtec people were also known for their production of religious images imprinted on wood and covered in an assortment of turquoise fragments. Turquoise was used in many art forms in Mexico and it had high value, symbolizing life-giving water. Jewelry is another Mixtec art form. Goldsmiths created unique gold pieces, that were often attached with dangling bells. Mixtecs traded these, as well as polychrome pottery and wood carvings. The Mixtec people were recognized in Mesoamerica for their skilled craftspeople and artists.

Religion

Mixtec people believe that there is a divide between earth and sky, meaning that they do not worship any gods. They worship the forces of nature and focus on renewal and fertility. These are achieved through self-sacrifice. Many rituals, however, are based around Catholic saints introduced by the Spainards. Most Mixtec towns today have a Catholic church in the center. Native religious practitioners are men and women. Religious practitioners can be thought of as a combination of a shaman, curer, and diviner.

Medicine

Many health conditions are believed by the Mixtec people to be caused by acts of immorality. To treat Mixtec ailments, many use medicine that is made of plant and animal products. Specialists create this medicine and treat things such as soul loss, evil eye, and other conditions caused by witchcraft. While many still use these traditional methods, Mixtecs today also visit free health clinics established by the Mexican government in Mixtec communities that are staffed with medical doctors and nurses. These clinics have lowered the infant mortality rate and birth complications resulting in the death of the mother.