Indian language American Indian culture Indian heritage

Topil

"Topil" is an indigenous Oaxacan word for a traditional public servant, usually a young man who volunteers his time to be an assistant and messenger for a priest or leader. The word topil comes from Nahuatl, but is often used by Zapotec, Mixtec and Amuzgo people as well, although the Zapotec word for such a public servant is actually ga, and the Amuzgo word is jnd'i.

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Here are links to our webpages about the Oaxacan tribes and languages:

Amuzgos
Zapotecs
Mexican Indians
Oto-Manguean
Mesoamerican civilizations

Here are a few good books about the indigenous Mexicans of Oaxaca:
The Cloud People: Zapotec and Mixtec Civilizations
The Mixtecs of Oaxaca: Ancient Times to the Present
The Mesoamerican Indian Languages

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