"The
Enduring Huichol"
By Jeannette Saylor
June 2004 Guadalajara-Lakeside Volume 20, Number 10
The
Huichol Indians of west-central Mexico live deep in the barrancas of
the Sierra Madre mountains. They can be found in Jalisco, as Lakeside’s
community well knows. These friendly people are spiritually guided,
with a deep respect for their ancient beliefs. However, they have managed
to blend with modern conveniences. For example, it was pleasant to see
the young Huichol in this photo dressed in his native embroidered slack
outfit, casually punching Telmex buttons.
Research shows that 18,000 Huichol Indians still
live in remote settlements and maintain their ancient beliefs. An estimated
7,000 Huichols are considered to be the last vestiges of the Aztecs.
Because they helped the people escape the ravages of the Conquistadors,
they are the only Mexican group that was spared by the Iberian conquest.
To this day, Huichols remain as caretakers of the planet and are devoted
to environmental balance.
The urban Indians still live mostly in Huichol-only
villages near areas that support their artwork. Their religious art
began before the Spanish conquest, but now they are best known for their
beaded crafts and jewelry. When European missionaries brought glass
beads as trade items, appreciative Huichol immediately began to work
with and display the colorful beads. Centuries have passed, but we see
the continuation of this practice in different media, including masks,
prayer bowls, jewelry and yarn paintings.
Their religious art requires many hours of intricate
design. To create one of their fantasy sculptures, the artist applies
a thin layer of soft beeswax to a wood sculpture or a gourd. With a
fine pointed wood stick, he picks up one glass bead at a time and sets
it into the wax, pressing in the bead with his finger. Thus the shaman’s
requests are offered to the gods.
The Huichols call themselves Wixalika, meaning
"prophets" or "healers." Many prefer their native
costumes and speak no English. Some, however, earn teacher certificates
and return to their homes to educate the children who would otherwise
speak only the native Huichol tongue.
Modern
living, however, has eased Huichol conditions. An archaeologist friend
spent years living with the Huichols, following them on their spiritual
quests and studying Shamanism. He felt they are indeed a magical race
as he had seen uncanny feats. However, he said this power is waning,
that the gradual encroachment of civilization had eroded their need
for magic and lessened its reliability. As an example, they used to
call a deer to a path with their magic. They would consecrate it and
feed their families. Now that they can buy meat at the butcher’s,
that particular skill is no longer needed. Convenience or magic; which
would you choose?
Centuries go by. Still natives in a modern world,
the Huichol people balance past and present. The axle depends on their
principal word: freedom. They continue to express this unique
freedom by retaining their Huichol spirit through religious culture
and art. Their nature-based way of life has survived five centuries,
"one bead at a time."
(Ed. Note: Photos by Cindy Paul, with thanks
to Pedro Guerrero at his showroom for the Huichol Spirit, Herme Galeana
No. 18, Ajijic.)