Xinca people
Encyclopedia
The Xinca are a non-Mayan indigenous people
of Mesoamerica
, with communities in the southern portion of Guatemala
, near its border with El Salvador
, and in the mountainous region to the north.
Their language (the Xinca language
) is generally classed as a language isolate
with no demonstrated affiliations with other language families
, although a relationship with Lenca
has been proposed.
The Xinka (also spelled Szinca or Xinca) are considered to be the oldest inhabitants of southeastern Guatemala. The Xinka themselves spell their name with a 'k' rather than with a 'c'.
coast to the mountains of Jalapa
. In 1524 the population was conquered by the Spanish Empire
. Many of the people were forced into slavery and compelled to participate in the conquest of modern-day El Salvador
. It is from this that the names for the town, river
, and bridge "Los Esclavos" (The Slaves) are derived in the area of Cuilapa
, Santa Rosa
.
After 1575, the process of Xinka cultural extinction accelerated, mainly due to their exportation to other regions. This also constributed to a decrease in the number of Xinka-language speakers. One of the oldest references concerning this language was presented by the archbishop Pedro Cortés y Larraz during a visit to the diocese of Taxisco
in 1769.
, Santa Rosa
, in 1994. It was called Consejo del Pueblo Xinka de Guatemala or COPXIG. The COPXIG was instrumental during the last part of the negotiations of the Guatemalan Peace Accords, specifically during the negotiation the Accord on Indigenous Rights and Identities which was finally signed in Mexico City in 1995.
In 2002, a new political organization was formed under the name of Consenso por la Unidad del Pueblo Xinka de Guatemala or CONXIG. The CONXIG was organized by nine Xinka communities in the departments of Santa Rosa and Jutiapa, as well as by the COPXIG. With the support of the Norwegian International Development Agency (NORAD) and the United Nations Verification Mission for Guatemala (MINUGUA), the CONXIG was transformed into the first indigenous parliament in the country, under the name of Parlamento del Pueblo Xinka de Guatemala or PAPXIGUA.
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
of Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica is a region and culture area in the Americas, extending approximately from central Mexico to Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, within which a number of pre-Columbian societies flourished before the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the 15th and...
, with communities in the southern portion of Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, near its border with El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, and in the mountainous region to the north.
Their language (the Xinca language
Xinca language
The Xinca language is a Mesoamerican language spoken by the indigenous Xinca people from communities in the southern portion of Guatemala, near its border with El Salvador and in the mountainous region to the north...
) is generally classed as a language isolate
Language isolate
A language isolate, in the absolute sense, is a natural language with no demonstrable genealogical relationship with other languages; that is, one that has not been demonstrated to descend from an ancestor common with any other language. They are in effect language families consisting of a single...
with no demonstrated affiliations with other language families
Language family
A language family is a group of languages related through descent from a common ancestor, called the proto-language of that family. The term 'family' comes from the tree model of language origination in historical linguistics, which makes use of a metaphor comparing languages to people in a...
, although a relationship with Lenca
Lenca language
The Lenca language is one of the indigenous Mesoamerican languages. At the time of the Spanish conquest of Central America in the early 16th century, it was spoken by the Lenca people in a region that incorporates northwestern and southwestern Honduras, and neighboring eastern El Salvador, east of...
has been proposed.
The Xinka (also spelled Szinca or Xinca) are considered to be the oldest inhabitants of southeastern Guatemala. The Xinka themselves spell their name with a 'k' rather than with a 'c'.
History
In the 16th century the territory of the Xinka extended from the PacificPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
coast to the mountains of Jalapa
Jalapa (department)
Jalapa is a department of Guatemala, in the south east-of the republic. The capital is the city of Jalapa.In 2000 the department of Jalapa had an estimated population of 390,500. The majority is ladino, of predominantly European descent, with sizable minorities of K'iche' and Poqomam Maya...
. In 1524 the population was conquered by the Spanish Empire
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
. Many of the people were forced into slavery and compelled to participate in the conquest of modern-day El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
. It is from this that the names for the town, river
Los Esclavos River
The Río Los Esclavos is a river in Southern Guatemala. Its sources are located in the mountains in the southeast of the department of Santa Rosa. From there it flows past the town Cuilapa through the coastal plains of Santa Rosa into the Laguna de Sipacate and then into the Pacific Ocean.The Los...
, and bridge "Los Esclavos" (The Slaves) are derived in the area of Cuilapa
Cuilapa
Cuilapa, also known as Santa Rosa Cuilapa, is a town in Guatemala. It serves as the capital of the department of Santa Rosa and as the administrative seat for the surrounding municipality of Cuilapa.Cuilapa marks the midpoint of the American Continent....
, Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa (Guatemalan department)
Santa Rosa is a department in Guatemala. The capital is Cuilapa.- Municipalities :# Barberena# Casillas# Chiquimulilla# Cuilapa# Guazacapán# Nueva Santa Rosa# Oratorio# Pueblo Nuevo Viñas# San Juan Tecuaco# San Rafael Las Flores...
.
After 1575, the process of Xinka cultural extinction accelerated, mainly due to their exportation to other regions. This also constributed to a decrease in the number of Xinka-language speakers. One of the oldest references concerning this language was presented by the archbishop Pedro Cortés y Larraz during a visit to the diocese of Taxisco
Taxisco
Taxisco is a municipality in the Santa Rosa department of Guatemala. It is located near the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean.Taxisco was the birthplace of Juan José Arévalo, who served as President of the Republic from 1945 to 1951....
in 1769.
Population
In the 2002 National Census, a total of 16,000 individuals identified themselves as Xinka. Today, after a revivalist movement led by the two main Xinka political organizations in Guatemala, a total of 200,000 individuals located in nine communities claim to be Xinka.Today's Political Organization
The first Pan-Xinka political organization was created in ChiquimulillaChiquimulilla
Chiquimulilla is a municipality in the Santa Rosa department of Guatemala. It is located about from the Pacific coast.The city is an important regional trade location and junction. The most important products are leather goods. Chiquimulilla has 12,700 inhabitants.Some descendants of the Xinca...
, Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa (Guatemalan department)
Santa Rosa is a department in Guatemala. The capital is Cuilapa.- Municipalities :# Barberena# Casillas# Chiquimulilla# Cuilapa# Guazacapán# Nueva Santa Rosa# Oratorio# Pueblo Nuevo Viñas# San Juan Tecuaco# San Rafael Las Flores...
, in 1994. It was called Consejo del Pueblo Xinka de Guatemala or COPXIG. The COPXIG was instrumental during the last part of the negotiations of the Guatemalan Peace Accords, specifically during the negotiation the Accord on Indigenous Rights and Identities which was finally signed in Mexico City in 1995.
In 2002, a new political organization was formed under the name of Consenso por la Unidad del Pueblo Xinka de Guatemala or CONXIG. The CONXIG was organized by nine Xinka communities in the departments of Santa Rosa and Jutiapa, as well as by the COPXIG. With the support of the Norwegian International Development Agency (NORAD) and the United Nations Verification Mission for Guatemala (MINUGUA), the CONXIG was transformed into the first indigenous parliament in the country, under the name of Parlamento del Pueblo Xinka de Guatemala or PAPXIGUA.