Hello everyone!
Can anyone direct me to resources available in print or online, that specifically addresses the Tlaxcalan and Otomi families of Las Lagunas, Buenavista and the Pueblo de Moya?
I purchased and read Mario Gómez Mata's book, INDIOS, but it reads more as an historical narrative of the pueblos - which it is - but not as a genealogical work.
The majority of our Indio ancestors are Tlaxcala and Otomi and from very specific families: Rhea, Hernández del Aguila, San Joseph, de Luna y Tapia, etc.
Has anyone compiled the genealogies of the founding and early families of the Pueblos in Lagos de Moreno?
I'm trying to document our ancestors from Moya and Buenavista, but it's like pulling teeth to trace them prior to 1660 or so, with all the surname changes.
In one document, someone may be named Pedro de la Cruz and another, he's Pedro Hernándes, and then in a third document, he'll be called, Pedro del Aguila. It's a very tedious process, and I don't want to reinvent the wheel here if someone else has done this work already.
Does anyone here have any suggestions?
Best,
Travis
Hola Travis!
I know that the settler colonial records refer only to Indigenous peoples as "Indios" but this is a very offensive term for many Indigenous peoples or personas Indigenas o de pueblos originarios. Also, Indigenous law experts use the capital I for Indigenous. As we know better, we can do better. May I please ask that you refrain from using the term, "Indio" unless you are citing the language listed in a colonial record. As a person of Indigenous descent on my mother's side (Mexico) and my father's said (Cherokee), I would appreciate it if this space doesn't use offensive terminology when speaking about us. Thank you!
Hello,
I hate that you took offense from a sincere request for advice when tracing the Indigenous Mexican ancestry of my family.
The title of my post was referencing Carlos Gómez Mata's book "Lagos Indios." I neglected to include the "Lagos" part in my haste.
I also used the term "Indios" when referencing my family's ancestors, because the parish records concerning them, specifically note them as such - without any national affiliation. That was the entire point of my post: determining national identity of colonial-era Indigenous ancestors beyond the casta designation: Indios. (Not referencing any modern population as such.)
On that subject, you mention that "settler colonial records refer only to Indigenous peoples as 'Indios.' " Not entirely, I've found many references to national affiliation in early settler records. In several, our ancestors are referred to as "Otomites" (Otomi). In others I've seen Indigenous people cited and identified as "Chichimeca."
I also read over my post and nowhere did I use the term "Indios" without capitalization, but thank you for the tip. I'll continue using it (except when quoting directly from source material)!
However, my phone and tablet habitually autocorrect posts and texts, and occasionally I'll even forget to capitalize proper nouns. So, you have my prior permission to correct me upon any occasion you feel compelled to do so. (I only ask that you make all corrections in red color, so they stand out and are easily recognized for what they are. )
Again, one last time: no offense was meant in my post where I was specifically discussing my family's colonial Indigenous ancestry in Mexico.
I sincerely appreciate your reply, and would appreciate any advice you may be able to give in discovering more about our Indigenous roots since you are so committed to and knowledgeable on the matter.
Thanks again, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Best,
Travis
Indigena