Acaxee

Quick Facts: Who was Acaxee?

Subject:

Acaxee

Known for:

Indigenous people of the Sierra Madre Occidental who spoke a Taracahitic language.

Died:

Living / None

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Acaxee or Acaxees were an Indigenous people of the Sierra Madre Occidental in eastern Sinaloa and northwestern Durango. They spoke a Taracahitic language in the Uto-Aztecan language family. Their culture was based on horticulture and the exploitation of wild animal and plant life. They no longer exist as an identifiable ethnic group. Before Spanish colonization, the population of the Acaxee was roughly 20,000 organized into many smaller independent chiefdoms.

Career & Major Achievements

They lived in very low-density farms with homes separated by up to half a kilometer. Early accounts by Jesuit missionaries allege continual warfare and cannibalism among the Acaxee, Tepehuan, and Xixime who inhabited Nueva Vizcaya. The Spanish conquered Sinaloa from 1529 to 1531 which included conquering the Acaxee. They were devastated by Spanish introduced diseases and the encomienda system. In December 1601, the Acaxees, under the direction of an elder named Perico, began an uprising against Spanish rule.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

This revolt was called the Acaxee Rebellion, but eventually ended in a defeat of the Acaxee. They are said to have been converted to the Catholic faith by the society of Jesuits in 1602. Over the centuries of Spanish rule, the Acaxee were gradually assimilated into Mexican society, and while no longer a separate ethnic group, many in Sinaloa are descendants of the Acaxee. Ethnographer Ralph Beals reported in the early 1930s that the Acaxee played a ball game called "vatey [or] batey" on "a small plaza, very flat, with walls at the sides".

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1529: 1529 Milestone — The Spanish conquered Sinaloa from 1529 to 1531 which included conquering the Acaxee.
2. 1601: 1601 Milestone — In December 1601, the Acaxees, under the direction of an elder named Perico, began an uprising against Spanish rule.
3. 1602: 1602 Milestone — They are said to have been converted to the Catholic faith by the society of Jesuits in 1602.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Acaxee

True or False: “The Acaxee maintained their distinct cultural identity and political autonomy throughout the entire period of Spanish colonization in Sinaloa.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While they initially resisted through uprisings like the one in 1601, the Acaxee were gradually assimilated into Mexican society over centuries.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Acaxee