# Mazatec

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Indigenous People of Mexico

For the languages, see [Mazatecan languages](/source/Mazatecan_languages).

Ethnic group

Mazatec Ha Shuta Enima Mazatec girls performing a dance in Huautla de Jimenez Total population ~305,836 Regions with significant populations Mexico (Oaxaca) Languages Mazatec, Spanish Religion Roman Catholic, and Traditional religion Related ethnic groups Popolocas

The **Mazatec** are an [Indigenous people of Mexico](/source/Indigenous_people_of_Mexico) who inhabit the [Sierra Mazateca](/source/Sierra_Mazateca) in the state of [Oaxaca](/source/Oaxaca_(state)) and some communities in the adjacent states of [Puebla](/source/Puebla) and [Veracruz](/source/Veracruz).

Some researchers have theorized that the Mazatec, along with Popoloca speakers, once inhabited the lowlands of the [Papaloapan basin](/source/Papaloapan_River), but were driven into the adjacent highlands by the expansion of [Nahuas](/source/Nahuas).[1]

## Language family

The [Mazatecan languages](/source/Mazatecan_languages) are part of the [Popolocan family](/source/Popolocan_languages) which, in turn, is part of the [Otomanguean](/source/Otomanguean) language family.

## Traditional religious rituals

Mazatec tradition includes the cultivation of [entheogens](/source/Entheogens) for spiritual and ritualistic use. Plants and fungi used for this purpose include [psilocybin mushrooms](/source/Psilocybin_mushroom), psychoactive [morning glory](/source/Morning_glory) seeds (from species such as *[Ipomoea tricolor](/source/Ipomoea_tricolor)* and *[Ipomoea corymbosa](/source/Ipomoea_corymbosa)*), and *[Salvia divinorum](/source/Salvia_divinorum)*.[2][3][4] This latter plant is known to [Mazatec shamans](/source/Mazatec_shamans) as *ska María Pastora*, the name containing a reference to the [Virgin Mary](/source/Blessed_Virgin_Mary).[3]

## Notable Mazatecs

- [María Sabina](/source/Mar%C3%ADa_Sabina)

- [Julieta Casimiro](/source/Julieta_Casimiro)

## See also

- [Indigenous peoples of the Americas portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas)

- [Indigenous peoples in Mexico](/source/Indigenous_peoples_in_Mexico)

- [Mixtec](/source/Mixtec)

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Wauchope, R. (2015). Handbook of Middle American Indians, Volumes 7 and 8: Ethnology. United States: University of Texas Press. pg 325

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Jean Basset Johnson](/source/Jean_Basset_Johnson) (1939) The elements of Mazatec witchcraft, Etnologiska Studier 9:128-150.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_3-1) Valdés *et al.* (1983)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Osiris Sinuhé González Romero (2022-02-10). ["Mazatec Shamanic Knowledge and Psilocybin Mushrooms"](https://chacruna.net/mazatec-shamanism-and-psilocybin-mushrooms/). *Chacruna*. Retrieved 2022-04-15.

## References

- [Campbell, Lyle](/source/Lyle_Campbell) (1997). *American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America*. Oxford Studies in Anthropological Linguistics, 4. [William Bright](/source/William_O._Bright) (series general ed.) (OUP paperback edition, 2000 ed.). New York: [Oxford University Press](/source/Oxford_University_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-509427-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-509427-5). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [32923907](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/32923907).

- [CDI \[Comisión Nacional para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas\]](/source/Comisi%C3%B3n_Nacional_para_el_Desarrollo_de_los_Pueblos_Ind%C3%ADgenas) (2004–2007). ["Mazatecos - Ha shuta Enima"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070609231402/http://cdi.gob.mx/index.php?id_seccion=305). *Información: Los pueblos indígenas de México* (in Spanish). CDI. Archived from [the original](http://cdi.gob.mx/index.php?id_seccion=305) on 2007-06-09. Retrieved 2007-05-02.

- [Karttunen, Frances E.](/source/Frances_Karttunen) (1994). [*Between Worlds: Interpreters, Guides, and Survivors*](https://archive.org/details/betweenworldsint00kartrich). New Brunswick, NJ: [Rutgers University Press](/source/Rutgers_University_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8135-2030-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8135-2030-8). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [28150669](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/28150669).

- Mooney, James (1911). ["Mazatec Indians"](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10093a.htm). *[Catholic Encyclopedia](/source/Catholic_Encyclopedia)*. Vol. X (New Advent online reproduction ed.). New York: Robert Appleton and Company. Retrieved 2007-05-02.

- Valdés, Leander J., III; José Luis Díaz; Ara G. Paul (1983). "Ethnopharmacology of *ska María Pastora* (*Salvia divinorum*, Epling and Játiva-M)". *Journal of Ethnopharmacology*. **7** (3): 287–312. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/0378-8741(83)90004-1](https://doi.org/10.1016%2F0378-8741%2883%2990004-1). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[2027.42/25229](https://hdl.handle.net/2027.42%2F25229). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [6876852](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6876852).{{[cite journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_journal)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list))

## External links

- [Article from the Catholic Encyclopedia](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10093a.htm)

v t e Indigenous peoples of Mexico More than 100,000 people Chinantec Chʼol Huastec Maya Mazahua Mazatec Mixe Mixtec Nahua Otomi Purépecha Rarámuri Tlapanec Totonac Tzeltal Tzotzil Zapotec Mexico portal 20,000 – 100,000 people Amuzgo Chatino Chontal Maya Cora Cuicatec Huave Mam Mayo Popoluca Tepehuán Tojolabal Triqui Wixarika Yaqui Zoque 1,000 – 20,000 people Akatek Chichimeca Jonaz Chocho Chuj Guarijio Jakaltek Lacandon Matlatzinca Mexicanero Ocuiltec Pame Pima Bajo Qʼanjobʼal Qʼeqchiʼ Tacuate Tepehua Less than 1,000 people Awakatek Chiricahua Cochimí Cucapá Ixcatecos Ixil Kaqchikel Kʼicheʼ Kikapú Kiliwa Kumiai Lipán Mezcalero Motozintleco Opata Paipai Seri Teko Tohono Oʼodham Western Apache

v t e Indigenous peoples of Oaxaca Amuzgo Chatino Chinanteco Chochotec Cuicateco Huave Ixcatec Mazateco Mixe Mixtec Oaxacan Chontal Popoluca Tacuate Trique Zapotec Zoque

Authority control databases International GND National United States France BnF data Israel Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mazatec](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazatec) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazatec?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.