Ch'orti' people
Encyclopedia
The Ch'orti' people are one of the indigenous
Maya peoples
, who primarily reside in communities and towns of southeastern Guatemala
, northwestern Honduras
, and northern El Salvador
. Their indigenous language
, also known as Ch'orti'
, is a survival of Classic Choltian, the language of the inscriptions in Copan
. It is the first language of approximately 15,000 people, although the majority of present-day Ch'orti' speakers are bilingual in Spanish
as well.
as the cultural center, were the heaquarters of the ancient Mayan civilization. The Ch'orti' people, led by their Mayan Chief Galel, strongly but unsuccessfully resisted the Spanish conquerors.
The Ch'orti' belong to the Meridional Mayans, and are closely related to the Mayans in Yucatan
, Belize
and Northern Guatemala
. They are also somewhat related to the Choles, Mayans that currently live in Chiapas
.
on the south, to Chiquimula
on the west, and to the Golfo Dulce to the north. Currently, the majority of the Ch'orti are located in Guatemala
(in Chiquimula
, Jocotan
, Esquipulas
, Quezaltenango and La Union
).
The current Guatemalan Ch'orti' population estimate is 46,833.
The Ch'orti' population in Honduras
live in areas of difficult access in the Copan and Ocotepeque departments, like Chonco, Colon Jubuco, San Rafael, Tapescos, Carrizalon, La Laguna, Santa Rita
, Antigua Ocotepeque, Nueva Ocotepeque
, and Sensenti
.
The current Honduran Ch'orti' population estimate is 4,200. They are mostly farmers, and they lived in areas mixed with mestizos.
; most Ch'orti
speakers are in Guatemala. This is because the political division between Honduras and Guatemala, and the inherent movement restriction between the two countries.
However, the traditional dressing customs have been kept, as well as their musical traditions. Their musical culture is expressed by using instruments like teponangas, drums, whistles, chinchins, sonajas and horns. The most traditional dance is called the "dance of the giants".
Their food is based mainly on corn and beans. Corn is prepared in different ways: as a drink, like chilate, pozol, sweet atole, and sour atole (chuco), tortillas, tamales, totoposte and also alcoholic drinks like chicha.
Ch'ortis religion is based on admiring and adoring nature, through rituals dedicated to the gods of the Earth and the Wind.
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
Maya peoples
Maya peoples
The Maya people constitute a diverse range of the Native American people of southern Mexico and northern Central America. The overarching term "Maya" is a collective designation to include the peoples of the region who share some degree of cultural and linguistic heritage; however, the term...
, who primarily reside in communities and towns of southeastern Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, northwestern Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, and northern El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
. Their indigenous language
Mesoamerican languages
Mesoamerican languages are the languages indigenous to the Mesoamerican cultural area, which covers southern Mexico, all of Guatemala and Belize and parts of Honduras and El Salvador. The area is characterized by extensive linguistic diversity containing several hundred different languages and...
, also known as Ch'orti'
Ch'orti' language
The Ch'orti' language is a Mayan language, spoken by the indigenous Maya people who are also known as the Ch'orti' or Ch'orti' Maya. Ch'orti' is a direct descendant of the Classic Maya language in which many of the pre-Columbian inscriptions using the Maya script were written...
, is a survival of Classic Choltian, the language of the inscriptions in Copan
Copán
Copán is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization located in the Copán Department of western Honduras, not far from the border with Guatemala. It was the capital city of a major Classic period kingdom from the 5th to 9th centuries AD...
. It is the first language of approximately 15,000 people, although the majority of present-day Ch'orti' speakers are bilingual in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
as well.
History
The Ch'orti' area, having CopanCopán
Copán is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization located in the Copán Department of western Honduras, not far from the border with Guatemala. It was the capital city of a major Classic period kingdom from the 5th to 9th centuries AD...
as the cultural center, were the heaquarters of the ancient Mayan civilization. The Ch'orti' people, led by their Mayan Chief Galel, strongly but unsuccessfully resisted the Spanish conquerors.
The Ch'orti' belong to the Meridional Mayans, and are closely related to the Mayans in Yucatan
Yucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
, Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
and Northern Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. They are also somewhat related to the Choles, Mayans that currently live in Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
.
Geographical Location
Historically, the Ch'orti Mayans were located in the Ocotepeque and Copan departments, as well as in the northern strip of the Cortes and Santa Barbara departments. This geographical area possibly also extended to El SalvadorEl Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
on the south, to Chiquimula
Chiquimula
Chiquimula is a city in Guatemala. It serves both as the capital of the department of Chiquimula and as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name....
on the west, and to the Golfo Dulce to the north. Currently, the majority of the Ch'orti are located in Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
(in Chiquimula
Chiquimula
Chiquimula is a city in Guatemala. It serves both as the capital of the department of Chiquimula and as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name....
, Jocotan
Jocotán
Jocotán is a municipality in the Chiquimula department of Guatemala.This town is the location of Radio Chortis, a Roman Catholic radio station funded by Belgian and German Catholics. It broadcasts primarily in Spanish, but there are a few hours a week in the Chortis language, which is still spoken...
, Esquipulas
Esquipulas
Esquipulas is a town in the Guatemalan departmentof Chiquimula on the border with Honduras. It serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name...
, Quezaltenango and La Union
La Unión, Zacapa
La Unión is a municipality in the Guatemalan department of Zacapa.- External Links :*...
).
The current Guatemalan Ch'orti' population estimate is 46,833.
The Ch'orti' population in Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
live in areas of difficult access in the Copan and Ocotepeque departments, like Chonco, Colon Jubuco, San Rafael, Tapescos, Carrizalon, La Laguna, Santa Rita
Santa Rita, Copán
Santa Rita is a municipality in the Honduran department of Copán.- Santa Rita Copan links :*...
, Antigua Ocotepeque, Nueva Ocotepeque
Nueva Ocotepeque
Nueva Ocotepeque is a city in south west Honduras. It is the capital city of the Ocotepeque department of Honduras.Nueva Ocotopeque was settled in 1935 after the site of the former town of Ocotepeque was destroyed by flooding.-Sources:...
, and Sensenti
Sensenti
Sensenti is a municipality in the Honduran department of Ocotepeque....
.
The current Honduran Ch'orti' population estimate is 4,200. They are mostly farmers, and they lived in areas mixed with mestizos.
Organization and Culture
The Ch'ortis in Copan speak SpanishSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
; most Ch'orti
Ch'orti' language
The Ch'orti' language is a Mayan language, spoken by the indigenous Maya people who are also known as the Ch'orti' or Ch'orti' Maya. Ch'orti' is a direct descendant of the Classic Maya language in which many of the pre-Columbian inscriptions using the Maya script were written...
speakers are in Guatemala. This is because the political division between Honduras and Guatemala, and the inherent movement restriction between the two countries.
However, the traditional dressing customs have been kept, as well as their musical traditions. Their musical culture is expressed by using instruments like teponangas, drums, whistles, chinchins, sonajas and horns. The most traditional dance is called the "dance of the giants".
Their food is based mainly on corn and beans. Corn is prepared in different ways: as a drink, like chilate, pozol, sweet atole, and sour atole (chuco), tortillas, tamales, totoposte and also alcoholic drinks like chicha.
Ch'ortis religion is based on admiring and adoring nature, through rituals dedicated to the gods of the Earth and the Wind.