Homework English

Exposing a culture Tabasco

Chontales from Tabasco

Territorial location

The mayas-chontales are a mayense town living in the current state from Tabasco.

Meaning

The term chontal is a Mexican or náhuatl  word, that means “abroad”, but the Chontales from Tabasco call themselves yokot’anob or yokot’an, that means “who speaks the true language”.

Language

Their language went influenced by language chol, of the group cholano or cholatano, of family of Mayan languages.

Territorial distribution

The population yokot’anob occupies five municipalities in the state of Tabasco: Centla, El Centro, Jonuta, Macuspana y Nacajuca. In the municipality of Jonuta the indigenous population is majority, and the other municipalities are found only in certain areas. In Centla they occupy the northern part, the area of swamps, lagoons and mangroves. In Macuspana they also located in the northern part. But in Jonuta they are in more remote sites. And finally, in El Centro, the indigenous population located in the limits with the municipality of centla and riverside Grijalva.

Origin

The Chontales, inhabitants of the tropical wet rainforest, arrived at Tabasco territory shortly before the Christian era.

History

The people was a farmer, use the system to race in high places, while in the humid lowlands they obtained new corn. The people also had great ability for business. And concerning fishing, this was made in the sea.

When the Spanish people arrived to Mexican coast submitted to the Chontal and settled in their territory. The Spanish people developed livestock and indigenous participated in those activities being servants. And the worst went that the Spanish people brought diseases that did havoc in the population.

Formerly, the rural homes were of jahuacte y palm, with the hardwood pillars that resist the constant moisture of the place; were fresh and windowless.

Current flora and wildlife

The original fauna of the region includes the saraguato, Spider monkey, the opossum, fox, raccoon, wild rabbit, the macaw, quetzal, partridge, snakes of various species, the lizard, iguana, giant shrimp, besides felines like the jaguar, puma, mountain lion and deer, most of them in danger of extinction.  The same fate has befallen the jungle vegetation, conformed by species like mahogany, macayo, laurel, red stick, cedar, fig, rubber, real palm, etc.  Mangroves are the dominant vegetation on the banks of the swamp and lagoons, forming thick forests.

Threats

The flora and wildlife original those continue to disappear by the unstoppable penetration of companies in the tropical and humid rainforest, engaged in logging and ranching practices. Nevertheless, although forests and jungle continue being overfished, the Chontales do drums still, tunkules and pitos, with that do the music of traditional dances and ceremonies.

Social organization

Currently have abandoned the old traditional organization based on the extended family, the office systems and skill played on traditional economic activities such as agriculture, fishing and handicraft production. Nowadays the towns are “municipal offices” with a structure similar to the rest of the country.

Religion

Doña Bolom is the mistress of the sea and is visited by flying creatures, “weretigers” and “mecaguas”. Ix Bolom can be the moon, related to fertility. Myths are full of supernatural beings that inhabit the environment as “the gods of the earth”, the owners of the lagoons and mangroves. Also it speaks of “nahuales”, of the “Llorona” and of others beings owners of the earth.

Health

Indigenous medicine is mainly based on herbal, but it combines with ceremonies that involve the supernatural. Between indigenous therapists stand bonesetters, ensalmadores and midwives. Sorcerers handle the magic, to which mortal ills are attributed.