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Nahua of Zoquiapan, Puebla
Frequently asked question about Nahua language(PDF).
Preguntas frecuenté sobre el idioma Náhuatl (PDF)
Información del Instituto Lingüístico de Verano de los origines de idioma Náhuatl en español
Information from the Summer Institute of Lingustic Study. of the origins of the Nahua Language.
Info in Spanish from the Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples (Mexico)

Zoquiapan, Puebla is a municipality which is just now coming into the light. For decades poor roads kept this small municipality distant from the main communities of the northern sierra. Now with the emphasis on road building this area is open for exploration.

About 70% of the people that live here speak or understand Nahuatl. Most of the older generations are Nahuatl speaker but like in so many other areas of Mexico the younger generation were not taught in schools and declined to learn in their homes.

This is also true for the traditional dress in the area. Very similar to the “traje” or dress worn in the Cuetzalan district it has been gradually replace by Chinese and Asiatic made clothing. The style of dress I jokingly call “Chinatlateca”. As mass media and extensive migration take the Nahua out of their environment, they are enveloped in the pop culture and the communications revolution and adapt the style of the modern Mexican society, which is the global style.

The environment in Zoquiapan lends it self to tourism, there are a number of interesting rivers, waterfalls and caves in the region. The Piano cave has formation which went struck give off different tone. There are rivers that disappear into the sand and reappear on the other side of the mountain. At the mouth of this cave you can hear the river roars well down below.

he Nahua of the Sierra norte region share territorial borders with the Totonaca. This region was part of the Totanacan Empire which was called Totanacapan; the Nahua conquered this region in the 1500 century and force the Totonaca out of the area. The Nahua surrounding Cuetzalan and nearby regions have maintained their strong cultural roots and language. It is difficult to say how many "Nahua" live in the region, because it depends on how large you draw your circle; however including Xochitlan, Zacapoaxtla and Hueyapan region, an estimate would be around 100000. The costume of the region seems at first glance to be the same; however each village has a variation which allows the locals to tell immediately which village the person is from. The type of belt, style of quechquemitl, the cut of the blouse or the way they wear their hair can all be identifying factors.