Images of the Present: Xochimilcan sweet resistance; Self Consciousness and the Cultural Territory
Agustín Villalpando Sanchez
UNAM (México)
For centuries, Xochimilco has been a proud and self-conscious nation. The kingdom of Xochimilco traditionally covered the Southern part of the Valley of Mexico as well as a part of the contemporary state of Morelos. The idea of Xochimilco as a place both of touristic importance as well as a reservoir of flowers, food, vegetables and drinking water for „Mexico City" is still current today. The Xochimilcan empire was conquered, first by the Aztecs and then by the Spaniards and in the process they developed a tradition for "adaptive resistance" that still survives. This adaptive resistance may be exemplified by the first codex refering to traditional medicine, in the American Hemisphere, written in Nahuatl and translated to Latin by two Xochimilcas: Martin de la Cruz y Juan Badiano.
Over time, the original language and the original religion of Xochimilco were forgotten in their names but not necessarily in the blood of the people. All changes and even with the adopted language and religion of the conquerors: the Spanish language and the Catholic Church and its rites, the economical and touristic importance of this place, different, far, unique from the rest of „Mexico City" is present both in the idea of the City of Mexico and in the consciousness of what it means to be a Xochimilca.
Being Native Xochimilca nowadays is being aware of the difference between themselves and the people that originate in the capital of the country as well as those that have installed themselves and live on Xochimilcan territory. This constant way of self-identification as Xochimilcas challenges the idea of Mexico City as a whole entity and it also challenges the Xochimilcan people itself as the City of Mexico´s influence as well as the undeniable Globalization´s influence would seem to be a constant threat to the very existence of this identity. An example is that, besides the „ahuehuete" that was given as a gift by the Aztec tlatoani to the Xochimilcan people, the colonial churches, and some parts of the waterchannels there are few traces of traditional dressing or architecture. Is there really a Xochimilcan self-consciousness? Are the food, vegetables and flowers as well as the over 400 public celebrations ways of resistance?
This paper discusses the Xochimilcan experience as an example of the identity of a native people based on a family perspective. The personal experience of the author as well as the self-consciousness of the members of his own family will unveil surprises as, in many unexpected ways, a seventysomething year old, a fiftysomething, a couple of fourtysomethings, a late thirties as well as a couple of teenagers and a nine year old persons that identify themselves as Xochimilcas will speak of what the author calls „sweet resistance" a consciousness, an awareness of the different into the diversity and sometimes threatening surroundings, spiced with anecdotes, legends, sayings, flavors, smells as well as the images of the present will be introduced in an exercise of consciousness.