Mixtec People

Hello! We are the Mixtec people. We have a special name for ourselves that we love. In our own language, we call ourselves the People of the Rain. Our home is in a country called Mexico. It is a special place with tall mountains all around and deep valleys in between. We have lived here with our families for a very, very long time. Our communities are an important part of who we are.

A long time ago, our families loved to make beautiful things with their hands. We were artists who made special books from animal skin. Our books were different from the ones you might read. They folded out like an accordion! Instead of using words, we told our stories with colorful pictures. These pictures showed our history and our beliefs. We also made shiny jewelry from gold that glittered and glowed. Our potters used clay from the earth to make pretty pots for our homes. Everything we made was full of color and care.

Today, we are still here, living in our homeland. Many of us still live in the same mountains and valleys our ancestors did. We are proud to speak our Mixtec languages. When we get together, we love to celebrate! Our celebrations have happy music and wonderful dancing. We also share special foods that have been part of our culture for a long time. Many of us are still wonderful artists. We weave colorful clothes and make beautiful art, just like our ancestors did. We share our stories and our art with the world.