Chimalli Institute of Mesoamerican Arts

[ Kurly Tlapoyawa ] In my book Our Slippery Earth: Nawa Philosophy in the Modern Age, I discuss the concept of Teotl and how it relates to the Mesoamerican philosophical worldview of “Nepantlakayotl.” As a result, I am often asked if a symbol for Teotl exists in any of the surviving Mesoamerican codices, whether pre-Kuauhtemok … More Does a symbol for “Teotl” exist in the codices?

[ Kurly Tlapoyawa ] Kurly Tlapoyawa originally presented this lecture at the 2017 Northeastern Group of Nahuatl Scholars conference at Yale University. [Update 2/18/2019: edited for clarity and minor grammatical errors.] The years following the Mexican revolution saw an upsurge in a form of nationalism characterized by the exaltation of Mexico’s indigenous past. As a … More Invented Words: The Declaration of Kuauhtemok

[ Kurly Tlapoyawa ] Corn is one of the great contributions made by Mesoamerican civilizations to the world. Modified and manipulated by the hands of our indigenous ancestors, it remains a pivotal part of Chicano-Mexicano identity. Here are 68 different ways you can say “corn” in Indigenous Mexican languages! Sunuko /Tarahumara (Chihuahua) Os /Huave (Oaxaca) … More 68 different ways to say “Corn” in Indigenous Mexican languages.