Coca people facts for kids

The Coca people are an ancient group of Native people who live in Nayarit, Mexico. They are one of the oldest indigenous groups in that area.

Who Are the Coca People?

The Coca people's ancestors were called the Concheros. They first lived in coves along the Pacific coast of Nayarit. They built their homes using seashells. They believed the ocean and wind were their gods.

Over time, these people became known as the shaft tomb culture. This was because of the special cylindrical tombs they built. These tombs are found across Nayarit and Jalisco, reaching down to Colima near Lake Chapala.

Life in Ixtlan del Rio

Later, the Coca people settled in Ixtlan del Rio, Nayarit. They built beautiful, round temples for their wind god. They also built other important buildings. They became wealthy by trading obsidian, a dark, glass-like rock. Obsidian was very common there. In fact, the name Ixtlan means "obsidian."

The Nahua Invasion

Around 1100 to 1200 CE (Current Era), the Coca people were invaded. The Nahua people came from the north, from the land of the Yaquis. These Nahuatl invaders were aggressive. They took control of Ixtlan del Rio. The Nahuatl lords expanded the obsidian trade even more. They saw the Coca people as servants. The Nahuatl word "coca" actually means "servants."

Journey to Lake Chapala

Around 1310, a group of Coca people left Ixtlan del Rio. Their chief, named "Big Eyes," led them to a safer valley. This valley had steep mountains and the largest lake in the central highlands. Chief Big Eyes likely knew about Lake Chapala already. The lake looked like a huge inland sea and always had wind. This was a good sign for the Coca people. They had felt their "Wind God" had turned away from them when the Nahuatl invaded.

A New Home by the Lake

Lake Chapala had strong winds and many fish. The Coca people believed the lake had its own goddess, Michi Cihualli. Sometimes they called her "Teo Michi Cihualli," meaning "Goddess of the Fish." The steep mountains between them and the Nahua in Ixtlan del Rio made them feel safe.

The lake provided many fish and good land for farming. They called their new home Cuitzlan. The Coca people did not have a written language. So, when the Spanish arrived around 1525, they misunderstood the name. The Spanish thought the Coca people were calling their main village on the north shore Cosala.

Spanish Arrival and New Names

After the Spanish arrived, they converted the Coca people to Catholicism. They renamed the village San Juan Cosala. The Spanish also took some Coca people about 5 miles east. There, they built a chapel in a smaller fishing area now called Ajijic. Stories also say the Spanish took some Coca people and rocks from the mountainside. They used these to build another chapel at the west end of the lake, in the area now known as Jocotepec.

Coca Culture Today

Today, the Coca people still have a well-organized community, or pueblo. In their central area, they have a nearly circular, two-story gazebo. The first floor of this building is a museum. This architecture and town planning are very similar to what was found in Ixtlan del Rio.

See also

In Spanish: Pueblo coca para niños