Chontal Maya facts for kids

The Chontal Maya are a group of Maya people who live in the Mexican state of Tabasco. The word "Chontal" comes from the Nahuatl language and means "foreigner." This name has been used for different groups in Mexico. However, the Chontal people call themselves the Yokot'anob or Yokot'an. This means "the speakers of Yoko ochoco" (their language). People who write about them often call them the Chontal of Centla or the Tabasco Chontal. The Yokot'an believe they are descendants of the ancient Olmecs. They are not related to the Oaxacan Chontal people.

Where the Yokot'an Live

The Yokot'an people live in 21 towns. Their home is a large area called "la Chontalpa" in Tabasco. This area covers five different parts of Tabasco: Centla, El Centro, Jonuta, Macuspana, and Nacajuca. In Nacajuca, most of the people are Yokot'an.

The land here is very diverse. It has many rivers that flood during certain seasons. There are also lots of lakes, lagoons, and wet areas. The weather is warm and humid, like a tropical jungle. In the past, many different animals lived here, but human activities have changed the environment. Mangrove trees are the most common type of plant.

A Look at Yokot'an History

The land where the Yokot'an live was once the home of the Olmec civilization. The Olmecs lived there from about 1400 BCE to 400 BCE. The famous Maya civilization was at its strongest around the year 300 CE. At this time, the Yokot'an people also had a very strong culture.

Their culture had started to decline by the time the Spanish arrived in the area. Spanish explorers like Bernal Díaz del Castillo and Hernán Cortés wrote about them.

In 1518, Juan de Grijalva came to Yokot'an lands. The people did not welcome him. The next year, Cortés's group arrived in Tabasco. He met with Tabscoob and other chiefs. They gave him a translator who later became known as Doña Marina or La Malinche.

In 1614, the first church was built in Nacajuca. This town was seen as the center of the Yokot'an world. Nacajuca was the only major town to survive the colonial period. This was partly because people started raising animals, which changed how they farmed.

How the Yokot'an Make a Living

Traditionally, the Yokot'an people make money through agriculture (farming), fishing, raising livestock (animals), and hunting small animals. They also make crafts from palm wood. In the past, making lime from oyster shells for building was important. But now, people use other building materials, so it's not as profitable.

Farming

Yokot'an farming methods have been studied a lot. They are similar to the ancient Maya farming ways. They grow crops on higher lands that get rich soil from floods. Their main crop is maize (corn). Farming has changed since the Spanish conquest of Mexico. That's when people started raising animals. Maize, beans, and squash are planted during certain seasons.

Fishing

Fishing might have been as important as farming for the Yokot'an before the Spanish arrived. But today, it's not as important because the environment has been damaged. However, people still fish, especially when there are lots of fish.

There are three main groups of fishermen. The "libre" (free) fishermen use simple tools like hoops and baskets. They work in small groups led by a chosen "boss." Members of official fishing groups get benefits from being organized, but they are often not paid enough. The third group includes business owners with good equipment who work with others.

Raising Animals

Raising animals is a growing part of the Yokot'an economy. Sometimes, this happens at the expense of farming. Many shallow lagoons that were used for fishing have been drained to create land for animals to graze.

Hunting

The Yokot'an hunt animals like the White-tailed deer. However, small animals are much more important for hunting.

Crafts

The Yokot'an people weave hats from palm leaves. They also make sleeping mats called petates from cañita fibers. But their most important craft is making dugout canoes. They also make smaller boats called cayuco. These are used for fishing and to reach the many small islands where they plant crops.

Yokot'an Culture

Homes

Traditional Yokot'an houses are shaped like rectangles. They are made of palm and wood, supported by six to eight posts. The roofs are very steep. This helps heavy rain run off easily. Professionals usually build these roofs. Houses often have overhangs where people do outdoor work. Cooking is usually done under one of these awnings. Today, people also use nails when building houses.

Family Life

The Yokot'an family is usually a nuclear family (parents and children). They are monogamous (one husband, one wife) and stick together. People tend to marry young. Men and women have specific roles. However, women are respected more in traditional villages than in villages with many mixed-race people.

Beliefs and Religion

The Yokot'an's original stories about how the world began are just starting to be studied. Their myths are full of magical creatures from the water and mangrove swamps. The story of La Llorona is also told.

Public religious events often happen on feast days. This shows how their traditional beliefs mixed with the Catholic faith. Their old religion was closely tied to their economy and culture. So, changing seasonal celebrations to Christian ones was a way to introduce Spanish faith and culture.

Important feasts include Our Lady of Mount Carmel (July 16), who was once linked to Ix Bolom, the goddess of the sea and patroness of fishermen. Other feasts are the Immaculate Conception (December 8) and the Archangel Michael (September 29). April 29 is celebrated for the flood season.

Over time, the Catholic Church encouraged people to follow Catholic teachings more strictly. They discouraged some traditional practices. This led to people celebrating feasts more privately within their families.

Language

Most Yokot'an people can speak two languages. Their language, Yoko ochoco, was once in danger of disappearing. But in the 1980s, efforts to save it helped it grow stronger.

Modern Challenges

The environment has changed a lot for the Yokot'an. Shallow lakes were drained for animal pastures. Land used for farming was also turned into grazing areas. More recently, Pemex (a large oil company) has polluted the waters in northern Tabasco. This has also changed the water's saltiness. Some animal species have disappeared, and others have left their homes. This means there are fewer fish to catch. The mangrove forests have also shrunk, providing fewer resources. These changes have led to local groups working to protect their environment.

These environmental problems have caused many Yokot'an, especially men, to move to cities to find jobs. This has sometimes made family bonds weaker. Also, old traditions, especially those about how they used to make a living, are not as well kept.

Sources

• Incháustegui, Carlos. Chontales de Centla: el impacto del proceso de modernización. Villahermoso, Tabasco: Instituto de Cultura de Tabasco, 1985. ISBN: 968-889-001-4
• Incháustegui, Carlos. "Chontales de Tabasco / Yokot'anob o Yokot'an", part of the Instituto Nacional Indigenista's Pueblos Indígenas de México monograph series [1]

See also

In Spanish: Chontales de Tabasco para niños