Mixtecs

Mixtecs are an indigenous people of Mexico, concentrated in the Mixteca region of Oaxaca with smaller communities in western Guerrero and southern Puebla. They are widely known as the Mixtec; in many communities they call themselves Ñuu Savi, meaning “People of the Rain,” though names vary by village and language. The Mixtecan languages form a branch of the Oto-Manguean family, and dozens of distinct varieties are spoken with limited mutual intelligibility.

Historically, Mixtec political life consisted of regional polities centered in valleys and hills, such as Tututepec, with extensive trade networks across Mesoamerica. The Mixtecs produced a rich pictorial writing tradition in bark-paper codices, recording genealogies, land, and history. Notable surviving codices include the Codex Zouche-Nuttall and the Vienna Codex (Vindobonensis Mexicanus I). Their material culture encompasses weaving, metalwork, pottery, and goldsmithing, alongside maize-based agriculture and other crops.

The Spanish conquest in the 16th century brought profound changes, including Christianization, land appropriation, and new economic systems. In the modern era, Mixteca communities remain substantial in Oaxaca, preserving languages and crafts while engaging with broader Mexican society. Bilingual education and migration to urban centers and the United States have shaped contemporary life, producing a sizable Mixtec diaspora. Ongoing efforts focus on language preservation, land rights, and cultural heritage, alongside socioeconomic challenges common to many indigenous communities.