Who Are the Huichol People?
The Huichol people represent one of the last indigenous groups in Mexico. They continue to follow the culture and traditions of their ancestors' pre-Columbian existence. The Huichol inhabit a region of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range in western central Mexico where their isolated existence faces threats from encroachment by modern civilization.
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History
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The Huichol practice a way of life virtually unchanged from life in Mexico prior to the arrival of Western Europeans in the 1500s. Their history is being preserved by The Huichol Center for Cultural Survival and Traditional Arts. The center collects artwork, beadwork, photographs and taped interviews with members concerning ancient customs and traditions and any other items that explain the culture. The center's intent is to create a permanent record of the Huichol for future members and the world at large.
Economy
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The Huichol economy is based upon an agarian way of life. Corn remains as their main crop along with wild vegetables and fruits. Members hunt and fish like their ancestors before them. Many members leave the Sierra Madre to work as migrant workers due to lack of jobs. The Huichol Center emphasizes economic self-sufficiency through the establishment of retail outlets in Mexico to sell Huichol artwork, including beads for necklaces and bracelets. This effort provides income that allows members to avoid low paying jobs outside their community.
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Religion
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Religion for the Huichol people centers around the shaman, who receives five to ten years of training to serve as a priest and healer. They conduct ceremonies in early summer for rain and the planting of crops and harvest ceremonies at the end of of the growing season. Hunting season requires another ceremony as well as the annual pilgrimage to the desert to obtain peyote which is a large part of Huichol life. This hallucinogenic substance is strictly used in ceremonies according to ancient traditions.
Future
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The Huichol people's future is tied to maintaining their traditions and adapting to change through sustainable agriculture and small businesses to generate income. Planting new crops like soybeans and marketing works of art provide a means to survive economically and still be able to maintain their own language and religion.
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