The Mayan people have been weaving for thousands of years. The designs are distinctive, each language group has its own style. It is generally possible to identify someone's village of origin by his/her dress. When the Spanish clergy learned that the designs woven into the native clothing made reference to ancient local deities and beliefs, they forced the native people around San Cristobal to forego their traditional designs and adopt a plain white tunic. The Tzetzales (also called Tzeltales) around San Cristobal are still wearing plain white tunics. This photograph was taken at a peaceful demonstration in San Cristobal in the fall of 1976. Their placards and signs bear messages like 'We want justice' and 'You have hurt us'. As Dr. Brinton noted a centrury ago, the people of Chiapas have been resisting for hundreds of years.

This is a direct quotation from

Nagualism

The last revolt of the Indians of Chiapas occurred among the Zotzils in 1869. The cause of it was the seizure and imprisonment by the Spanish authorities a "mystical woman", known to the whites as Santo Rosa, who, together with one of their ahuas or chieftains, had been suspected of fomenting sedition. The natives marched thousands strong against the city of San Cristobal, where the prisoners were, and secured their liberation; but their leader, Ignacio Galindo, was entrapped and shot by the Spaniards, and the mutiny was soon quelled.

22).   But perhaps the most striking instance is that recorded in the history of the insurrection of the Tzentals of Chiapas, in 1713. They were led by an Indian girl, a native Joan of Arc, fired by like enthusiasm to drive from her country the hated foreign oppressors, and to destroy every vestige of their presence. She was scarcely twenty years old, and was known the Spaniards as Maria Candelaria. She was the leader of what most historians call a religious sect, but what Ordonez y Aguiar himself a native of Chiapas, recognizes as the powerful secret association of Nagualism, determined on the extirpation of the white race. He estimates that in Chiapas alone there were nearly seventy thousand natives under her order doubtless an exaggeration and asserts that the conspiracy extended far into the neighboring tribes, who had been ordered to await the result of the effort in Chiapas.

Her authority was absolute, and she was merciless in requiring obedience to it. The disobedient were flayed alive or roasted over a slow fire. She and all her followers took particular pleasure in manifesting their hatred and contempt for the religion of their oppressors. They defiled the sacred vessels of the churches, imitated with buffoonery the ceremonies of the mass, which she herself performed, and stoned to death the priests whom they caught.

Of course, her attempt against the power of Spain was hopeless. It failed after a bitter and protracted conquest, characterized by the utmost inhumanity on both sides. But when her followers were scattered and killed, when the victorious whites had again in their hands all the power and resources of the country not their most diligent search, nor the temptation of any reward, enabled them to capture Maria Candelaria, the heroine of the bloody drama. With a few trusty followers she escaped to the forest, and was never again heard of.

More unfortunate were her friends and lieutenants, the priestesses of Guistiupan and Yajalon, who had valiantly seconded Maria in her patriotic endeavors. Seized by the Spaniards, they met the fate which we can easily imagine, though the historian has mercifully thrown a veil on its details.

Roots of the struggle
Understanding the Chiapas revolt
Winds of war in Chiapas
Rainforest Agriculture
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