tindali

Is the Mazateco word for hola o adios, similar to ciao. The spelling is mine 

from hearing the word in Huautla.

Road to Huautla de Jiménez

Sierra Mazateca, Oaxaca, México

A Bishop once called on María to teach younger generations of her 

own offsprings her wisdom. 


She answered this way.


The color of the skin or the eyes can be inherited, including 

the manner of crying or of smiling, but the same can’t be 

done with wisdom.


Wisdom one beings with one from birth. 

My wisdom can’t be taught; that’s why I say that nobody 

taught me my Language, because it is the Language 

the saint children speak upon entering my body.


Whoever isn’t born to be wise can’t attain the Language 

although they do many vigils.

Translated from Mazateco, a dialect of Nahualt, to Spanish by Álvardo Estrada then to English by Henry Munn. Edits to the English translation by Armando Villarreal.

I am wise even from within the womb of my mother. I am the woman of the wind, of the water, of the path, because I am know in heaven, because I am a doctor woman. I am the daughter of god and elected to be wise.


I can arrive where the world is born.


Where the shooting stars are showering, where the flock of Lord eagles are, the sacred eagles, says.


I am a woman who sounds forth with grandiloquence, says.


I am a woman who goes through the water, says.


I am a woman who sounds forth with divinity, says.


I am a little woman of the networks of light, says.


I am a little whirling woman of colors, says.


I am a little Lord eagle woman, says.


I have seen demons and have passed through the dominion of death, says.

En Viaje

I learned about Huautla fI learned about Huautla from Francisco Cordova, maestro en etnología, Universidad Veracruzana.


One cantina night in Jalapa, Francisco leans in across the table the way one does who is about to confide you into their world. Me dice, "Mira, yo soy amigo de Álvardo. El y María son amigos. Álvardo y María son de un pueblocito cerca de Huautla. Hoy el vive en el DF. Mañana mismo le envío un carta de presentación. He leans back, “Ahora, dime sobre los Chicanos y de tu familia. Dedonde en Mexíco son tus padres?”...

‍ Álvardo Estrada                      María Sabina

Photo from the book, Maria Sabina Her Life and Chants. By Álvardo Estrada.