Tracing back your indigenous Mexican ancestry can be a lifechanging experience, especially given the rich history that all the indigenous cultures contribute to make up Mexico. Contrary to popular belief, not everyone in Mexico is descendant from the Aztecs/Mexica. Today in modern Mexico there are 68 indigenous languages. Likewise, historically, many tribes were in fact enemies of the Aztec/Mexica as they began to take over various regions throughout central Mexico. Before embarking on your family tree it is important to note the complexity of indigenous populations post-conquest and how that factored in to waves of migrations and resettlements throughout various regions. War, famine and disease displaced many populations…some, like the Caxcan, were utterly obliterated, however, were later replaced with other populations from throughout Mexico that moved into the area. Follow these simple step-by-step instructions and you should be able to start your own genealogical adventure.
1. Start collecting research from any living relative
Using your family’s oral history begin writing down every possible detail you can obtain from living older relatives. Ask about locations, dates (marriages, birthdays, etc), names, etc. This will be the foundation on which the rest of your research will be based on. Some generations may have gaps due to their earlier migration into the United States, therefore, the linking directly to a region may be a little bit more difficult. However, migratory admission records can be easily accessible through several paid resources.
2. Gather copies of records
Gathering physical records and making copies will help solidify and cross-check references that you may come across at a later date. Many Hispanic names are quite similar, there will be odds stacked against you when you come across several names shared among various individuals within your tree. Ask family members for anything they may have saved and work your way back from there.
This is an excellent starting point for obtaining free civil records from Mexico: https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Mexico_Civil_Registration
3. Use genealogical databases
There are several genealogical databases which I highly recommend such as Ancestry.com and Wikitree.com. Ancestry.com is rather expensive, so I do not recommend using that until they have a sale or you’ve run low on resources. Another great website is FamilySearch.org which is a FREE online platform which helps you build out your tree from scratch offering you both church and civil records. There is a tiny disclaimer regarding using this website however, it is run and operated by the Mormon church, so there may be some trade off with the information that they obtain within the family trees.
4. Get DNA tested
There are several DNA companies that I recommend and some that I do not. By no means will a DNA test give you the results for tribal affiliation, however, they will breakdown indigenous populations by region or state. For example, many of us are mixed indigenous with stronger concentrations from one region, several others might show up within the results that you may have previously been unaware of. Once again, this is due to migration and population resettlements that have taken place. Another example would be a mestizo migratory worker moving to different areas, marrying into that family and after generationally the same will continue until you have an individual with several indigenous populations intermixed. As with myself, the results showed exactly what I had assumed with indigenous populations from the Rio Grande areas down into Nuevo Leon (from my mother’s side) as well as an even stronger concentration of indigenous blood from my father’s side in Aguascalientes (which showed a tri-state combination as the borders were laid on top of the indigenous Caxcan nation).
As of right now I do not recommend indigenous-focused DNA tests such as Somos for the same reason I’ve given before with the level of variations of indigenous populations. They are currently not reflective of ancestral indigenous ancestry, rather than modern populations. To assume indigenous affiliation through DNA is a little flawed. One can easily be part of one population but practice another culture in its entirety (which has happened a lot throughout history). For example, Caxcan indigenous who were relocated to other states, later became part of the adoptive communities integrating both culture and customs.
Ancestry.com and 23andme offer so far the best results for your money.
5. Analyze historical maps and census data
The use of maps is important in the understanding of indigenous populations and their distributions throughout various regions. This can help you narrow down migratory patterns, locations of ancestors, and cultural affiliations. Many indigenous people were seen as ‘poor’ and had to travel location to location to sustain themselves and their families. Thus, an ancestor from a specific state might not have ancestrally been from that location, rather they had relocated from another community due to hardships, etc.
6. Ask experts and become an active member of the community
There are many experts out there who love researching indigenous ancestry. From professors to hobbyists, the number of resources available just within the last few years is beyond measure. Once you trace back your ancestors you will most likely not see indigenous affiliations, however, based on the oldest of records one can assume based on the various communities where your ancestors may have originated. In other words, working to establish indigenous identity might be the result of the historical evidence provided. Migratory patterns have always existed throughout Mexico, in between ethnic and cultural groups. Once the paper trail runs out, you can use your best assumption to conclude an identity.
Conclusion
Unearthing your indigenous Mexican identity is a difficult but rewarding journey. Once you put together all the pieces of the larger puzzle, that is you, you begin to see how interconnected all of us really are. From how all the indigenous communities interacted via trade or marriage to the Spanish forces which later forced many people to move around throughout Mexico, we are quite literally all related. Indigenous identity is a difficult thing to figure out, however, the important thing is you’re part of the larger Mexican (Mexican-American) indigenous community. I hope many follow their quest for knowledge and pursue ever-lasting connections with the communities of this land. Just like our ancestors before us, we are mere travelers on this ancient land that our ancestors called home. We are guests to a larger world that we must acknowledge wholeheartedly. Even myself, being of Caxcan and Chichimecan ancestry I now live in ancient Ohlone territory and as such have made an effort to learn and be active within their ancestral territory.
Please embrace who you are, and no matter where your path leads you, remember you are the result of thousands of years of progression and survival.
Additional Resources:
https://www.familysearch.org/en/
https://www.ancestry.com/
https://www.wikitree.com/
