Tlapanec people facts for kids
| Meꞌphaa | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| ~75,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Mexico ( Guerrero,  Oaxaca,  Morelos) |
|
| Languages | |
| Tlapanec, Spanish | |
| Religion | |
| Roman Catholic, Protestant Christian, Animism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Subtiaba |
The Tlapanec people, also known as Meꞌphaa, are an indigenous group from Mexico. They are originally from the state of Guerrero. Their language, called Tlapanec, is part of the Oto-Manguean language family. A language called Subtiaba, which is now extinct, was closely related to Tlapanec. Today, most Tlapanecs live in Guerrero. There are more than 98,000 Tlapanec people.
Before Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas, the Tlapanec people lived in a secluded mountain area. This was along the Costa Chica region of Guerrero. This area is southeast of where Acapulco is today. The Aztecs called the Tlapanec territory Yopitzinco. They also called the Tlapanecs Yopi. Yopitzinco was special because the Aztecs never conquered it. It remained an independent area within the Aztec empire. The main Tlapanec city was Tlapan. The name Tlapanec comes from the Nahuatl language. It means "Inhabitant of Tlapan."
Understanding Tlapanec Beliefs
The Tlapanec people use stories, called myths, to explain things in nature. For example, they have a myth about how the sun (Akha), the moon (Gon), and the fire god (Akuun mbatsuun) were created. This myth says they were all born by a river. They were raised by Akuun ñee, who is the goddess of the temazcal (a type of sweatbath). She also represents the idea of hot and cold balance.
The Importance of Nagualism
Another important part of Tlapanec culture is nagualism. This belief says that when a baby is born, an animal is also born at the same time. This animal is the baby's nahual. The nahual is like a spirit companion. Only the child knows which animal is their nahual. This is because the nahual will only appear to the child in their dreams.
