MEXIKAH F.A.Q.
Please read this
section carefully
Q.) What is the Mexika Eagle Society?
A.) The Mexika Eagle Society (M.E.S.) was founded in 1995 by Kurly Tlapoyawa.
The purpose of the M.E.S. is to reclaim, preserve and advance the indigenous
history, heritage and culture of Anawak. The struggle of the M.E.S. is based
on the principles of Indianismo, as promoted within the living philosophy of
Mexikayotl. The M.E.S. soundly rejects the paternalistic and oppressive ideologies
of Indigenismo, Mestizaje, and La Raza Cosmica.
Q.) What is Mexikayotl?
A.) Translated literally, Mexikayotl means “everything which is Mexikah.”
In a broader sense, Mexikayotl can also be taken to mean “everything which
is Indigenous to Anawak." This includes our traditional foods, clothing,
music, languages, cultures, comsology, social organization, philosophies, etc.
Mexikayotl also includes our traditional ethics and values which shape how we
view the world from an Indigenous perspective. To struggle for Mexikayotl is
to struggle for all that is Indigenous to Anawak.
Q.) What is Ixachilan?
A.) Ixachilan (Ee-Shah-Chee-Lahn) is the original Nawatl word for the western
hemisphere - the "American" continents. It can be roughly translated
as meaning "The Great Land." We, the original inhabitants and caretakers
of this land are collectively known as Ixachilankah ("People from Ixachilan").
Q.) What is Anawak?
A.) Anawak/Anahuac (Ah-Nah-Wak) is a cultural area which includes the Four corners
region (Aztlan), Mexiko, Amalpan (Belize), Kuauhtemallan (Guatemala), Atenantitech
(Honduras), Kuzkatlan (El Salvador), and Nikananawak (Nicaragua). Priot to the
European invasion, Anawak was a culturally unified area with vast systems of
trade, government, agriculture and sciences. We, the original inhabitants and
caretakers of Anawak are collectively known as Anawakah ("People from Anawak").
Q.) What common traits united
Anawak?
A.) Here is a short list of traits which united Anawak:
Achievements: Our people shared
common achievements in mathematics, medicine, philosophy, art, music, metallurgy,
warfare and social organization.
Calendar Systems: Anawak societies developed a solar calendar of 365+1/4
days and a lunar calendar of 260 days. Our ancestors had an intimate and complete
understanding of the cosmos.
Food: Squash, mole, pozole, tamales, atole, elote, tortillas, beans,
turkey, chile, guacamole, pulque, octli, etc.
Linguistics: The Nawatl language as common language of trade.
Social Organization:
All Anawak societies functioned under a higly developed and advanced system
of communalism.
Cosmology: The concepts of "God" did not exist in any Anawak
societies. Instead, a belief in a dual cosmic energy was shared throughout Anawak.
This energy (Ometeotl to the Nawatlakah, Hunab Ku to the Maya, Koki Xee to the
Zapoteka) manifests itself as all the forces of nature. Anawak spiritual traditions
were designed to maintain a balanced relationship with this cosmic energy.
Q.) What is Aztlan?
A.) Aztlan ("place of the Heron") is where several Nawatlakah nations
lived before returning to the valley of Anawak. While the location of Aztlan
is the topic of much dispute, recent discoveries place Aztlan in the four corners
area - Wilson Mesa in Utah has been suggested as an exact location. It is one
of the many ancestral lands of our people.
Q.) What is a Mexikah?
A.) In 1064 AD eight Nawatl speaking nations left the four corners region and
migrated south into the valley of Anawak. They were led by a man named Mexihtli-Witzilopochtli,
who had received a vision instructing him to lead his people south and seek
out a new homeland. During this journey, those who remained faithful to the
original vision were annointed with the name Mexikah (Meh-Shee-Kah) which means
"Followers of Mexihtli." Those who struggle for Mexikayotl have humbly
adopted the term to collectively describe themselves.
Q.) Why Mexikah as an identity
for Xikano-Mexikanos?
A.) Placed into a modern context, a Mexikah is someone who has embraced their
Indigenous cultural heritage and has dedicated themselves to the struggle of
Mexikayotl. Not all of us can claim to be blood-descendents of the Mexikah,
but we can all certainly embrace the Mexikah philosophy and living spirit as
modern day followers of Mexihtli-Witzilopochtli. To embrace a Mexikah identity
is a culturally assertive and proud declaration that you are an Indigenous person
who is dedicated to the struggle of Mexikayotl.
Q.) Are You trying to assimilate
the Indigenous people of Anawak into a generic “Mexikah” identity?
A.) Absolutely not! The Mexikah identity is meant to unite us in our struggle,
not divide us. If someone does not feel comfortable calling themselves Mexikah,
but remains dedicated to the struggle for Indigenous liberation, then that is
fine! Mexikah exists as an identity for those who wish to embrace it, nobody
is being forced into it.
Q.) If this is true, then why
the emphasis on Mexikah/Nawatlakah history and culture?
A.) Realistically, the Mexikah culture was a living amalgamation of our collective
Anawak cultural heritage. By embracing a Mexikah identity, we are connecting
ourselves to the greater collective heritage of Anawak. Also, Mexikah/Nawatlakah
history and culture is by far the most accessible in terms of readily available
information. For those of us who do not know which sepecific pueblo we come
from, the Mexikah identity enables us to embrace our Indigenous heritage in
a general way, and can serve as a springboard to uncovering our specific pueblo
roots.
Q.) What is a Mexikano/Mexicano?
A.) When the white Spaniards invaded these lands, they were unable to correctly
pronounce the word "Mexikah." (There is no "SH" sound in
Spanish.) So, when the Spaniards phonetically wrote down the word Mexikah, they
used an "X" to represent the unknown sound it produced. (In mathematics,
"X" signifies an unknown value). As time passed, the "X"
in Mexikah and Mexiko got changed into the Spanish "J" sound we hear
today. As in Europe, the Spaniards added the suffix "ano" to the end
of Mexikah - as a means of labelling which nation they belonged to. (In Europe,
Italians were ItaliANOs, Spaniards were HispANOs, etc.) So, Mexikah (Meh-Shee-Kah)
became Mexicano (Meh-Hee-Kah-Noh) a word which has remained with us to this
day. To call yourself a Mexican or Mexicano is to use the Spanish mispronunciation
of Mexikah.
Q.) What is a Xikano/Chicano?
A.) Xikano/Chicano is a shortend way of saying Mexikahno. This word has been
in use since at least the 1600's. A Xikano/Chicano is an Indigenous person of
Mexikahn blood who resides in the so-called "United States."
Q.) What is Nawatl?
A.) Nawatl (Nahuatl) is one of the TRUE and ORIGINAL languages of the Mexikahn
people. At its zenith, Nawatl was spoken from the four corners region to Nicaragua
as a language of commerce. Presently, 3 MILLION Native Nawatl speakers remain,
and Nawatl words make up a large portion of the Xikano-Mexikahno Vocabulary.
Sadly, most of our people view Spanish as "our" language, and know
little about our TRUE heritage and languages.
Q.) What is Mexiko?
A.) After a journey lasting 261 years, the Mexikah finally arrived in their
new homeland, as was promised in the original vision of Mexihtli-Witzilopochtli.
They called this new homeland "Mexiko" which means "The place
of Mexihtli." The city of Mexiko-Tenochtitlan was constructed entirely
on top of lake Texkoko.
Q.) What is a Latino?
A.) Latinos are white people from Southern Europe, they include the Roman, Italian,
French and Spanish people. Latino is also a word used by Ixachilankah to describe
white Europeans in central and south Ixachilan.
Q.) What is a Hispano?
A.) Hispano is a Roman word used to describe a white person from Spain. Its
stems from the Roman word "Hispania," which was used by the phoenicians
to identify the lands now known as Spain and Portugal.
Q.) What is a Hispanic?
A.) Hispanic is the English translation of Hispano. It is a word utilized by
opportunistic White Cubans who hoped to create a false Euro-centric power base
by lumping together all Spanish speaking people into an artificially created
ethnic group. This would afford the White Cubans the opportunity to have their
own little "Ethnic population" which they could then represent, manipulate
and use to advance their own Eurocentric desires.