Letramento e Mediações Culturais em “Pueblos” Indígenas do Centro-Sul do México no Século XIX

Abstract

This article aims at shedding light on the uses of reading and writinginherited and applied by the indigenous communities in the state of Oaxacain Mexico after the independence. Since the colonial era, writing represented animportant instrument for the communities to address the vice-royal tribunals indefense of their lands and rights. The writing of legal petitions was carried out byliterate mediators, who wrote down the oral testimonies. With the independenceof New Spain, in 1821, this tradition persisted, although adapted to the juridicalstructure of the new born National State. On the other hand, throughout the19th century, many communities kept making efforts in order to assure the presenceof an elementary teacher capable of promoting literacy and fluency in Spanishamong the new generations.