Native American Nations in Mexico (Part XVI)
87West Indian Cultures
At least 60 separate Native Mexican American Nations (Mexicas, in their own language) have lived in Mexico.
The Indigenous Peoples of Mexico still living thre today are called Purepecha, Tarascan, and Huichol.
The Huichol are a very interesting people. Huichol Indians live in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range in Mexico. They are well known for wonderful intricate yarn paintings and for their beautiful bead work.
Before doing one of their yarn paintings, they take peyote, a drug made naturally in a cactus type plat. Thsi hallucinogen is so powerful that it allows them to have an alternate experience in which they travel with spirits and speak with them about their art.
For the Huichol that has taken the drug peyote in this manner, It is a goal to have the vision of a reindeer in their travels with the spirits. This is unusual since there are no reindeer in Mexico.
To envision a reindeer while under the influence of peyote as a spiritual experience means that theyhave made with their Gods and that their communications with them are all sacred.
From all of this, the artist uses what was seen in the alternate experience to make their paintings.
I have read Russian poets refer to this experience as the Other World. Australian aborigines call part of it The Dreamtime. Christian mystics have experienced visions of Jesus Christ. We must not belittle these eperiences as important or useful to the people. How interesting it is that the reindeer pulls up the sun each morning in the legends of the People of the North in Russia and the reindeer becomes a Dragon in the East, then becomes a reindeer again in Mexico. Such stories can be a marker for these civilizations to be closely related in culture and DNA/RNA. This lends credence to the beliefs that the People of the North migrated through Northeast Aasia, into Alaska, Canada, what is now USA, and southward all the way to the tip of south America - and probably back up into the Ohio Valley.
This is mind boggling.
I may have mentined the research I found in1996 that indicated that the Iroquois Confederation (at least one member nation) is closely related to the Zulu in Africa. One marker for this was the same word for "cousin" existing in both languages. I could not pronounce it.
Legends of the Deer
- So Sings the Blue Deer
A beautiful excerpt. Based on the true story of the Huichol Indian's 600 mile pilgrimage to save the Earth.
The Huichol Indians wanted to populate their forests with deer, because they believed the reindeer once roamed free there. The Mexico City Zoo gave then 20 blue deer in 1986 and the people started a new wild herd.
Two years after the project began, in 1988 the Mexican government recoginzed the Indians' repopulation of forests with deer by giving them the National Ecology Prize. The government of the state of Nayarit, Mexico, where the Huichol live, signed an agreement with the Cousteau Society to preserve their area for ecologically safe tourism: The blue deer is the intuition that speaks to their heart, if they just listen.
Purepecha and Tarascan Indians
The Purepecha live in the Sierra Madres in the State of Michoacan. They still speak their native Indian language and keep many ancient customs.
They make sculptures from local clay and paint. They combine Catholicism with their native beliefs in surreal and imaginative folk art.
Purépecha ared also called Tarascans or Tarscos,and Porhé. Their ancient empire rivaled the Aztec Empire during the Fifteenth and early Sixteenth Centuries (1400 - 1500 AD).
Their language is classified as an isolated language, spoken along southern fringes of south Jalisco.
These folks make colorful cars that are riden by skeletons and devils, in order to warn about the dangers inherent in reckless driving.
Mexican Native Americans in History
- Aztec
Aztec civilization and history in Mexico. - Black Indian Mexico
Infromation and photo gallery of Indians, Spaniards and Blacks that intermarried and ruled Mexico. - Mayan Ruins
Interactive Photes and Maps. - The Maya
Mayan culture and civilization. - Apocalypto
Mel Gibson's movie relevant to past Mexica cultures.
Mayan Wall Sculpture
Mexico in the News
- Mexico says new data reflect economic recoveryBoston Herald1 second ago
MEXICO CITY - Rising oil prices and increased exports are slowly dragging Mexico's economy out of a severe recession, but the nation's financial system still confronts...
- U.S. priorities shifting in Mexico 's drug fightDallas Morning News6 hours ago
U.S. assistance to help Mexico fight drug traffickers will probably continue beyond the allotted three years of the Mrida Initiative, with expanding cooperation but not joint law enforcement or military operations "on Mexican soil any time soon," a senior Obama administration official said.
- New Mexico defeats Nicholls State 83-59SportingNews6 hours ago
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Every New Mexico player got into the scoring column Friday and Phillip McDonald's 18 points led four Lobos in double figures as New Mexico topped Nicholls State 83-59 on the first day of the Basketball Travelers World Vision Classic.
- Next year looks brighter for Mexico's economyHouston Chronicle6 hours ago
Rising oil prices and increased exports are dragging Mexico's economy out of a recession, but the nation's financial system still confronts fundamental challenges, national leaders and experts say.
Other Pages in the Native Americans Series
Native Americans Part I
Native Americans Part II
Native Americans Part III
Native Americans Part IV
Native Americans Part V
Native Americans Part VI
Native Americans Part VII
Native Americans Part VIII
Native Americans Part IX
Native Americans Part X
Native Americans Part XI
Native Americans Part XII
Native Americans Part XIII
Native Americans Part XIV
Native Americans Part XV
National Pow Wow of the United States
Native Americans in Western Novels
Tribal Spirits
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The True Spirit and Original Intent of Treaty 7: Treaty 7 Elders and Tribal Council With Walter Hildebrandt, Dorothy First Rider, and Sarah Carter (Mcgill-Queens Native and Northern Series)
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Ancestors: Hidden Hands, Healing Spirits for Your Use and Empowerment
Price: $9.95
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Tree of Dreams: A Spirit Woman's Vision of Transition and Change
Price: $1.65
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Dreamkeepers: A Spirit-Journey into Aboriginal Australia
Price: $10.89
List Price: $18.00 |
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Comments & Additions
A book? About this? Thank you O Great 1000-Fans-in-One. Excuse me while I lie down for a while first at the thought, though ...heehee
There is an encyclopedia of 4 voumes each 3 inches thick or so that does not even include the updates from the last 4 years! I think an online Directory of Links would be just the ticket and I think I might start a webpage and blog about it! I think you just gave me a good idea.... :)
Dear Patty, Thank your for this marvelous hub. I plan to send to all my relatives and friends in Mexico!!!
O that is wonderful! Happy Holidays to you and to them! I hope they send us more information about Mexico... :)
Thanks Patty is a pleasure to read your hubs
Great hub fantastic historical story
Thanks; I'm glad you like it.
i would love if you could recommend a book about tribal spirits if there is even such a book out there thanks leon
Check the two on the Amazon.com link above called Tribal Spirits and look at:
Rainbow Tribe: Ordinary People Journeying on the Red Road by Ed McGaa & Eagle Man
Tiger-men and tofu dolls: Tribal spirits in Northern Thailand by Jon Boyes
Twin from Another Tribe: The Story of Two Shamanic Healers from Africa and North America by Michael Ortiz Hill (he has written several)
I need to know if there were any atomi indians in mexico, if so.....
How do you spell the name and where did they originate
Berta - read this link for Otomi at Britannica.
I'm really interested in ancient clutures, and particularly ones still existant today that haven't been "destroyed" by western influence.
I humanity today wasn't so blind we may all be living a bit more like this.














jimmythejock says:
2 years ago
Patty, another great addition to the series, I wonder though shouldnt you publish this as a book,YOUR BIGGEST FAN.....JIMMY