Opata people

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Òpata Eudeve', Heve Teguima, Doheme
Total population
Mexico:unknown
Regions with significant populations
Mexico (Sonora)
Languages
Spanish (the Uto-Aztecan Òpata language is extinct)
Religions
predominantly Roman Catholic
Related ethnic groups
O'Odham (Pima-Papago)

The Opata are a tribe of Mexican Indians of Piman stock. Their country is the mountainous district of north-eastern Sonora and northwestern Chihuahua, Mexico.

Though usually loyal to the Mexican government, they rebelled in 1820, as part of a larger movement for a free country in Northwestern Mexico run by indigenous people, but after a gallant effort were defeated.

They numbered about 5,000 in the early 20th century, athough they may have numbered as many as 60,000 at one time. Today, although some instances of the Mexican Government consider them extinct^[1], some civil groups and Opata descendants try to preserve their heritage and have reported about 146 Opata language speakers in 1990 ^[2].

[edit] Geographic Location

The Opatas occupied an extensive area in the eastern and central parts of the state of Sonora, which corresponds now to almost all of the Sahuaripa and Moctezuma districts and parts of Ures and Arizpe. The center of the Opata civilization was located in the Sahuaripa region. Many Opata moved north to Arizona and California in the late 1800s.

The tribal formations were distributed among the towns of Arizpe, Huepac, Bacoachi, Chinapa, Banamichi, Sinoquipe, Baviacora, Guasavas, Oputo, Bacadeguachi, Nacori, Bacerac, Bavispe, Guachinera, Oposura, Cumpas, Cuquierachi, Cucuta, Teuricatzi, Tepachi, Terrapa, Pipita, Yecora, Nacozari, Batepito and Corodeguachi. ^[3]