Mexico's cliff dwelling Tarahumara Indians : Tarahumara Religion : Traditional Tarahumara Pottery

History of Mexico’s Tarahumara (Raramuri) Indians

In their native tongue, the Tarahumara' word for themselves is "Raramuri" which means runners on foot. They are an ancient indigenous people of Mexico renowned for their long-distance running ability.

While hunting, Tarahumara have been known to run non-stop for days and as far as 100 miles to catch animals such as deer. The animals eventually tire and fall over from exhaustion.

Native history tells of the Tarahumara originally inhabiting much of the state of Chihuahua in Northern Mexico. They retreated to the Copper Canyon in the Sierra Madre Occidental upon the arrival of Spanish explorers in the sixteenth century. By retreating into areas so remote, the Spanish were unable to conquer them or subject them to Spanish rule.

Today, the Tarahumara still live in the most remote areas of the Copper Canyon, inhabiting natural shelters such as caves or cliff overhangs. They observe strict traditional ceremonial practices and keep to themselves, rarely intermarrying or even intermixing with the general population. Although recently Jesuit missionaries have been able to reach them and some of their religious ceremonies now mix traditional Tarahumara beliefs with Catholic doctrine.

Tarahumara Traditional Religion (with sprinkles of Catholicism)

The Tarahumara traditional religion is characterized by a belief that the afterlife is a mirror image of the mortal world, and that good deeds should be performed not for spiritual reward, but for the improvement of life on earth. The soul ascends a series of heavens, is reincarnated after each death, and after three lives becomes a moth on Earth. The moth represents the final existence of the soul. When the moth dies, the soul dies completely. However, this end is not regarded as negative or a punishment, but merely as a continuation of the order of life.

For the Tarahumara, God has a wife who dwells with him in heaven, along with their sons, and their daughters. The Devil and God are brothers (the Devil is the elder). Both jointly created the human race. God, using pure clay, created the Tarahumara, whereas the Devil, mixing white ash with his clay, created the Chabochi (non-Tarahumara). To the Tarahumara, the Devil is as much a protector and life-giver to the Chabochis as God is to the Tarahumara. The Devil's world is not necessarily evil, but is tainted through its ties with the 'Chabochi'.

An amazing characteristic of the Tarahumara is their apparent inability to tell a lie. It seems ancient religion has bred into the Tarahumara a moral code so strict that they seem incapable of it. Some psychologists have suggested that over the centuries this value system has actually caused physiological changes in their brain that preclude speaking anything but the truth.

Ceremonial Pottery

The Tarahumara are known for the brewing of tesguino, a corn-based beer brewed in ceramic pottery jars that feature prominently in many religious rituals. Their pottery typically does not include paints but instead rely on accessories like rawhide to decorate the vessels. At ceremonies, tesguino is considered a required drink for both men and women. A specific protocol for serving it is always followed.  Tesguino is also used to signal changes in self evaluation, for example a young girl will begin publicly drinking tesguino at religious ceremonies when she concludes that she is ready to look for a husband.

Ceremonial pottery is also used to store the sacred peyote. The peyote plant is believed to have four faces and sees everything; it is very powerful. Peyote spirits are said to be mischievous and capricious. A Tarahumara will address a peyote plant directly and ask its permission and willingness to accompany him before the plant is picked.

Our collection includes Tarahumara pottery, Tarahumara masks, Tarahumara art and other items that offer a glimpse of this ancient civilization.