Costa Chica of Guerrero - Amuzgos and Other Indigenous

Amuzgos and Other Indigenous

Indigenous peoples of the area include the Amuzgos, Mixtecs, Tlapanecs and Chatinos, but the Amuzgos are the most numerous by far, followed by the Mixtecs, who are mostly found in Tlacoachistlahuaca. There is little social interaction between the indigenous peoples and the Afro-Mexicans because historically the indigenous have viewed the Afro Mexicans as associated with the Spanish and are said to have acted as executioner of indigenous people in the past. Most indigenous and Afro Mexicans live in separate communities or separate neighborhoods of the same community. However, the separation is not absolute as there have been marriages between indigenous and Afro Mexicans.

The Amuzgos live in the border region of Guerrero and Oaxaca, near the Pacific Coast. Municipalities with the largest Amuzgo population in order are Xochistlahuaca, Tlacoachistlahuaca, Ometepec in Guerrero and San Pedro Amuzgos in Oaxaca. Census figures put the Amuzgo speaking population at about 35,000, but ethnic studies put the number at about 50,000, with about eighty percent living in the state of Guerrero. The Amuzgo language belongs to the Oto manguean family, in the Mixtec sub family. The origin of the Amuzgos is unknown. One theory states that the group migrated to its current location from the north from the area of the Pánuco River. Another states that the migrated from South America. Amuzgo folklore states that they came from islands in the sea. The Amuzgos also populated the coast but Mixtec expansion, the Spanish conquest and later African migration pushed them into the mountains. One interpretation of the name “Amuzgo” is from Nahuatl meaning “place of books” probably indicating that the region had administrative functions. The name of the language in Amuzgo is ñomnda (word of water). The name of the people is nnánncue (people in the middle) .

There is important traditional textile production among the Amuzgos, along with ceramics, leather, cheese and piloncillo. Most surplus products are sold in Ometepec. Traditional weaving is done on a backstrap loom, and girls learn the process starting from when they are about six or seven years old. The most traditional garments are made from a local cotton called coyuche, which is grown, cleaned, spun, dyed then woven. The most notable and time consuming garment is the women’s huipil, which has at time, very complicated designs woven into it. A number of Amuzgo weavers have been recognized for their work including Florentina López de Jesús. Many Amuzgos in Guerrero still wear traditional garments, with men wearing loose white cotton pants and shirt and the women wearing a huipil and dress. However, those made with commercial cloth is becoming more common.