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The Indigenous Caxcan of Central Mexico

 

“Indio Chichimeco” taken from an adult baptism record in Aguascalientes

Indigenous Caxcan/Chichimeca reenactment with Brenda Ruiz, indigenous activist of Caxcan ancestry.
From the Valle of Huejucar (Valley of the Willows, now Calvillo, Aguascalientes) in central Mexico, I’ve been trying to trace back more and more of my indigenous ancestors from that area of land that was once occupied by the Chichimeca Caxcans. Indigenous families from the region tended to jump around area to area. Many became incorporated into the general growing mestizo (or mixed Spaniard and indigenous) culture that would become the Mexico we know of today. 

Many came to these newly towns in search of a new life. In many cases, and what I’ve read from early documents, many were ex-hacienda slaves, indigenous or Spaniards, trying to create a better life for themselves and many began intermarrying. Most African-Mexican roots from this region are almost non-existent as they were culturally incorporated, yet their blood still continues on within all of us to some degree (accounting an average of 5-8% West African DNA).

Likewise, with the Caxcan, the indigenous people who once called these lands home. Though their language is no more, many clues left behind suggest they used a variant of Uto-Aztecan language which spans as far north as California and was the basis for the Aztec (Nahuatl) language. Though there is little evidence to support the Caxcans were present within this valley around 1776 (when the village was established), they are, however, clear indications that they were there at different periods prior…and their descendants from the principle valley down below Aguascalientes did migrate to this region. The valley of Huejucar connects into the Valley of Juchipila (or Canyon of Juchipila in present day Zacatecas), which historically served as a very important strategic area during the conquest of Mexico. 

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