Location: The Huichol live in Jalisco and Nayarit, in north central Mexico.
History: The Huichol are descendents of the Aztecs and are related to the Hopi of Arizona. After withstanding the Spanish Invasion, they fought to keep their culture alive, despite the presence of their Mexican neighbors. When game was plentiful and they were free to roam the vast mountain ranges and deserts of their homeland, they were not farmers, but hunters.
Language: Uto-Aztecan, Spanish
Daily Life: Today the Huichol are representatives of a pre-Columbian shamanic tradition which is still functioning according to the ceremonies of their remote past. Of utmost importance to the Huichol is the sacred Peyote. Peyote looks like a cactus and grows wild in the desert. It has been used for medicinal purposes as well as for spiritual visions and experiences for thousands of years. They practice agriculture and daily attempt to salvage every aspect of their unique culture as they can. However, urban Mexico grows closer every day.
photo from: http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/huichol/huicholindex.html
Though this page has been carefully researched, the author does not claim expertise on the Huichol.
Please send questions, comments, and corrections to emuseum@mnsu.edu and include the URL.
If you are Huichol, your feedback is much appreciated.
Otey, Robert. The Huichol.
Mexico Connect. http://www.mexconnect.com/mex/huichol/huichol2.html
Picker, Anne Paule. Guadalupe and the Way of the Huichol.
Mexico Connect. http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/huichol/guadalupe.html