Wixáritari

Haru

Chief-priest of his tribe, Haru's profound dedication to Tayaupá has kept him safe in defending Wixáritari lands. He has no fear of the Spanish colonizers, they are merely men. However, the darkness that finds his clan requires a prayer to the sacred ghosts that haunt the northern canyons.

Auí

Wife and young matriarch for the Wixáritari tribes of the north, Auí balances motherhood with tempering her husband's ambition. After losing her first daughter to forces she could not overcome, she has committed herself entirely to keeping her second daughter alive.

Siachí

The youngest daughter and resilient soul of Haru and Auí, Siachí remains captivated by the world around their territories. Despite seeing the horrors that hide in shadows and bloodshed, she remains hopeful for life and prays to catch a glimpse of the Ghost of the Canyon.

Location

Found along the high plains and mountainous regions of the Sierra Madre Occidental's southern and eastern landscape, the Wixáritari have cultivated a rich existence for more than 1,000 years.

The earliest evidence of their inhabiting the land starts around 100 A.D. and has remained as strong to the present day. Nestled between the tall peaks, plateaus, and plains of the area, the Wixáritari became deeply familiar with the minerals, metals, and horticulture of their lands.

Sharing the same natural resources as the Zacatecatl, the Wixáritari learned of metal-tipped weaponry early on. Refining their craft, the Wixáritari became a blend of Zacatecatl warrior-culture and Rarámuri enigmatic mystery.

Leveraging the land itself, the Wixáritari rarely had to defend their territories due to the sheer inaccessibility of the geography. However, when warfare found their tribes, the Wixáritari rarely left survivors scattered across the dirt of their desert highlands.

Beliefs

Sacred geography plays a major role in the belief system of the Wixáritari. Each sacred site remains the embodiment and source of creation for the Wixáritari. An elemental-based worship system, the tribe acknowledges the profound balance in nature and all its elements.

The most important deity within their pantheon is Tatewari (Grandfather Fire). An immortal shaman and keeper of wisdom, he is both the fire in the center of the tukí (temple) and is the direct line to the spirit world.

The balance to Tatewari is Takutsi Nakawé (Grandmother Growth) who represents life, fertility, and Earth. She emerged after a great flood to bring life across the land. She gives life and is the source of rain and water.

Ceremonial buildings are rare among the Wixáritari, as their beliefs regards all of nature a sacred place. The spiritual realm is accessed through portals provided by the sacred Hikuri (peyote) plant. Ancestors, alternate entities, and deities commune with priests during these sacred rituals.

Warfare & Conflicts

The Wixáritari had mastered the terrain they had inhabited for more than a millennium, using their sacred geography as natural fortresses against the Spanish invasion. Sharing territory with the Zacatecatl, both tribes set aside their differences to combine their skills to resist colonization.

Skilled archers with a short-bow, the Wixáritari's obsidian-tipped arrows were a devastating response to the Spanish steel technology. Unlike the Zacatecatl's open grassland and high plateaus, the Wixáritari took advantage of the Sierra Madre Occidental's cliffs, caves, and canyons.

Combining a raid-retreat style tactic of warfare, the Wixáritari dealt massive damage to Spanish supply lines, mining efforts, and expeditions attempting to penetrate their foothills. The efficient use of the terrain allowed specialist raid units as small as 5 or 6 to stop entire Spanish army units for weeks at a time.

Wearing animal hides, heads, and sporting painted bodies, the psychological effect of the Wixáritari's warriors spread throughout the Spanish Empire. Stories of bizarre half-man half-animal creatures screaming like demons terrorized Spanish soldiers.

Modern Day

The Wixáritari have kept their culture, religion, and ancestral practices alive into the modern era. Their remote terrains and integration of sacred geography with spirituality maintained their identity despite the ongoing efforts of external colonizers.

Similar to the Rarámuri to the north, the Wixáritari have found their autonomy protected in local tribal laws and practices. National government entities have liaisons that work with tribal leaders to maintain governance over surrounding lands but both remain mutually respectful of the others authority.

International acclaim found the Wixáritari in the recent decades due to their intricate woven garments and beadwork. Though many have cultivated careers in their artistry, the majority of the Wixáritari works remain within the tribe.

As the future of Mexico begins to acknowledge and embrace the tribes that laid the foundation for the Mexican identity, many tribes, including the Wixáritari are held in high regard for their history, contribution, and resilience in the face of colonization.

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