Introduction / History

The Tepehuan are an indigenous people living in Mexico s northern state of Durango. Their name means mountain dweller or mountain people. Their language is divided into three groups. One of these is Sureste Tepehuan.

During the days of the Aztec Empire, the Tepehuan controlled much of what is now northern Mexico. The Spanish Empire conquered the Aztecs, then began moving north. Eventually they used Mexico s northern region for ranching and mining. Tepehuan contact with the Spaniards stared with Roman Catholic missionaries, both Jesuit and Franciscan.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Sureste Tepehuan are farmers. They grow crops and raise livestock. They especially value horses for transportation and burros as pack animals. A smaller number of them are involved with local trade or the lumber industry.

They have a strange marital custom where the groom brings the bride back to his parent s home. They live together until the anger of family leaders dies down. Inheritance follows a patrilineal pattern unless there are no sons. In that case, daughters get the family inheritance. Sureste Tepehuan families are usually nuclear, but sometimes a widowed parent or grandparent lives with them.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Sureste Tepehuan have blended Roman Catholicism and indigenous practices. They associate God the Father with their sun god and Jesus with the moon god. The Catholic saints have roles much like minor gods. They associate Mary with the Virgin of Guadalupe. Some Tepehuan subgroups celebrate Holy Week much like other Roman Catholics. Many of their beliefs have pre-Christian roots such as the elote. This is a first fruits celebration that involves thanksgiving to the gods. Shamans are called upon to bring god down to earth in attempts to protect themselves from sickness and witchcraft.

What Are Their Needs?

The saints provide example of faithful living, but they do not have a magical connection with the true lord, Jesus Christ. The Sureste Tepehua people need to put Christ first in their lives.

Prayer Items

Pray for Sureste Tepehua fellowships to be Christ centered rather than saint and spirit centered.
Pray for spiritual hunger and a discernment that will keep them away from spiritual counterfeits.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to turn the Sureste Tepehua church to make disciples who will make more disciples.
Pray there will soon come a day when the Sureste Tepehua people will send loving workers to the unreached people groups in their country.

Scripture Prayers for the Tepehuan, Sureste in Mexico.

References

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tepehuan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tepehuas