Mixtec People

Hello. We are the Ñuu Savi, which means the “People of the Rain” in our language. Many people today know us by the name Mixtec. Our story is ancient, stretching back thousands of years in the mountains of what is now Oaxaca, Mexico. Our homeland, which we call La Mixteca, is a land of incredible variety. It is divided into three main zones: the highlands, a cool and rugged landscape of peaks and valleys; the lowlands, which are warmer and drier; and the coast, a narrow strip of land that meets the Pacific Ocean. This diverse environment has always shaped our communities, our beliefs, and our way of life. For countless generations, we have adapted to its challenges and celebrated its gifts. We are a living culture, and many of us continue to speak our language, Tu'un Savi, connecting us directly to the voices of our ancestors and the history of our land.

For much of our long history, our ancestors were not organized into a single, vast empire ruled by one person. Instead, we lived in numerous powerful city-states, each with its own ruler and distinct identity. Two of the most well-known were Tilantongo in the highlands and Tututepec on the coast. These kingdoms sometimes formed alliances with one another, trading goods and sharing knowledge. At other times, they were rivals, engaging in conflicts to gain territory or influence. A famous ruler from our history, Lord Eight Deer Jaguar Claw, shows how dynamic this world was. His life story, recorded in our ancient books, is filled with diplomacy, strategic marriages, and fierce battles as he worked to build a powerful domain. His story is just one of many that reveal the complex political world our ancestors navigated.

While our leaders and warriors shaped our history, our scribes and artists created a beautiful record of it. We are known for being master scribes who created amazing screen-fold books, which are now called codices. These books were made from long strips of treated animal hide or bark paper, folded like an accordion. On their pages, our scribes used intricate pictures and symbols to record our history, genealogies, religious beliefs, and scientific knowledge. They were libraries of our culture. Our ancestors were also renowned for their skills as artisans, especially as metalworkers. They were masters of working with gold and turquoise, crafting breathtaking jewelry, masks, and ornaments. The incredible skill of our artisans was proven to the world when archaeologists discovered a site called Tomb 7 at Monte Albán. Inside, they found a stunning collection of treasures made by our ancestors, a testament to a legacy of artistry and precision that had been buried for centuries.

Our deep connection to the land has always been central to our identity. To grow the crops we needed, like maize, beans, and squash, our ancestors developed ingenious farming techniques suited to our mountainous homeland. In the steep highlands, they built stone terraces called coo yuu into the sides of mountains. These flat, step-like platforms prevented soil from washing away in the rain and created level ground for planting. This innovation allowed us to thrive in a challenging landscape. Throughout our history, we also had complex relationships with our neighbors. We shared cultural ideas and trade routes with the Zapotecs, and later, we interacted with the powerful Aztec Empire, which expanded into nearby regions. These relationships were a mix of cooperation, competition, and influence that shaped our communities over time.

Through centuries of change, our culture has remained strong. Today, hundreds of thousands of Mixtec people live in our homeland in Oaxaca and in communities far beyond, carrying our heritage with us wherever we go. We continue to preserve our traditions that have been passed down through generations. Our language, Tu'un Savi, is spoken by many, and our artists continue to create beautiful textiles, pottery, and other crafts that echo the skills of our ancestors. We are the Ñuu Savi, the People of the Rain, and our story is not just found in ancient books or buried treasures. It is a living story that we continue to write every day.