posted on Jan, 29 2009 @ 09:06 PM
Greetings and Salutations ATS Members,
Oaxacan Indigenous Communities - An Contemporary Overview....
The Oaxacan are an indigenous people from Southern Mexican State of Oaxaca. One of the most exquisite cultures of Ancient America.
Despite the hardships of extreme poverty, the Mixtecs/Oaxacans have maintained their cultural integrity. Drawing upon their language, religion,
native social and political organization, and extensive knowledge of the plant and animal worlds. The Oaxacan generate the means necessary to ensure
cultural survial under conditions of extreme hardship.
Oaxaca, created the Mesoamerica Calendar. Found was Hieroglyphic writings indicating several names for the days in the 260-day count so fundamental
to Maya thought.
The Oaxacans brought about; Ceramics, Temple Frescoes at Tucum, Pictorial manuscripts, Social Rank, Economic advantage, and 10,000-years of
History...
The Oaxaca Highlands are in the Sierra Madre del Sur, it's steep escarpment fronting the Pacific Shoreline in Southern Mexico. In the Highlands, the
earliest firmly dated 'Maize-Cob' was found in Guila Naquitz Cave in Oaxaca, was dated to 4300 B.C. Domesticated Squash (Cucurbita Pepo) as early
as 8000 B.C. The squash is a distant relative of today's pumpkin. Diet was heavy in vegetable foods which came from domesticated plants. The
'Bottle-Gourd' appeared by about 6500 B.C.
The designed Olmec Figurines, small mirrors, some very convex, poilished from Iro-Ore nodes, traded from distant areas like the Highlands of
Oaxaca.
Understanding the Oaxacan Indigenous Culture....
Strict Community Participation! Males are the Partriarchs of their society. Males 18-years and older maintain the Community. Non-paid positions for
one to three years. Such as Mayors, Police, Principles, Teachers, etc.
Second poorest of populations. Indigenous referral is Mixtecos. Isolated from Government. They practice the Catholic religion, brought by the
Spaniards.
Family Values....
Support within their own community. Young girls marry older established men, normally between the ages of 13 to 14 years. Arranged marriages for
money and/or other gains. Divorced and Seperation are not allowed! Intimate relationships and/or interaction is rare! Hard to Trust people. Taken
advantage of by whites. Numerous problems due to language barriers. Translating is rare both written and orally. Speaking Spanish and/or Mexican
isn't accepted nor understood. Labor violations are common, such as non-payment and/or abuses by Federal and State Governments. Discipline methods
include physical punishments and yelling. Children learn from school and others, to turn their parents into Law Enforcement for minor cultural
offenses. Conversation is IMPORTANT, along with RESPECT! Visual is as-well important. They DON'T like to read! TRUST - A Golden Rule!!! Once
broken cannot be regained. Documentation, Certificates, etc., is as-well a learned process. They don't attend outside of their community social
functions, parties, etc. Basketball is their noted Cultural Sport!!!
If your wondering as to why I am posting this information regarding this beautiful Culture, it is solely based upon my Research of some five years now
in order that I will have the Book of Mormon translated into their Language of which there are fifteen different Dialects, which in and of themselves
have been a major work. Having the approval of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along the B.Y.U., Language
Department, and having spent numerous months in the Highlands of Oaxaca, I have come to a basic understanding of this Culture.
This incident that took place was in Greenfield, California about twelve miles from my home. I have first hand knowledge of this particular family
woes due in part to the inept Law Enforcement and their inappropriate mishandling of this matter, due in part to the Language and Cultural barrier
that exists. C.T.R., Elder1952
[edit on 29-1-2009 by Elder1952]