American Indian language * American Indian culture * What's new on our site today!

Xixime Indian Language (Jijime)

The Xixime Indians (also spelled Jijime) were a tribe of Western Mexico. They were subjugated by Spain and after a string of unsuccessful rebellions, they lost their language and their tribal identity in the 17th century. Little information about the Xixime language has survived--a grammar and dictionary written by Jesuit missionaries in the 1600's was lost and only a few translated prayers remain. From the Spanish records that are left it is clear that Xixime was a Uto-Aztecan language, perhaps similar to either Cahita or Tepehuan. Due to the lack of data, it is impossible to know for certain whether the Xixime spoke the same language as other small Western Mexican tribes such as the Acaxee or Tahue, or whether these tribes all spoke different languages. The Hine and Hume, who were subtribes of the Xixime, were said to speak dialects of the same language.

Thanks for your interest in Native American languages!

Sponsored Links


Xixime Language Links

Xixime Language Tree:
    Theories about Xixime language relationships compiled by Linguist List.

Xixime Culture and History Links

Xixime Tribal Map:
    Map showing the original location of the Xiximes and their neighboring tribes in Western Mexico.
The Myth of the Sinaloa Xixime Cannibals * Cannibalism Confirmed Among Ancient Mexican Group:
    Conflicting anthropological evidence about the practice of cannibalism by Xixime people.
The History of Indigenous Durango * Urdinola Sudues the Xiximes:
    Information on the Xixime revolts of 1601 and 1610.
Native Resistance and the Pax Colonial in New Spain: (Amazon affiliate link)
    Book about indigenous uprisings in Mexico, including a section on the Xixime and Tepehuan rebellions.
Xiximes:
    Wikipedia article on the Xixime Indians.

Links, References, and Additional Information

Pueblo Xixime * El proceso de extinción de los acaxees y xiximes * Los Xiximes:
Information about the Xiximes and their language in Spanish.



Back to the Native American nation list
Back to the indigenous history of Mexico
Back to our American Indian websites for kids

Native Languages

Native American reservations * Mojaves * Pit River Indians * Beadwork

Would you like to sponsor work on the Xixime language page?

Native Languages of the Americas website © 1998-2021 * Contacts and FAQ page