Aims and objectives
San Juan de La Laguna is an indigenous community located in west-central Mexico. During their process of gaining official status as an indigenous community by the federal government, they initiated a project to organise their historical archive. They have since found over 15,000 documents housed by local community members dating back to the 17th century, consisting of court cases, maps, official correspondence and meeting minutes. This project will seek to collect, organise and store these documents.
Located in Los Altos de Jalisco, San Juan de La Laguna is a region predominantly known for its Spanish and European descendants. Scholars have often discussed the “whitewashing” of this area, suggesting that indigenous populations largely perished during the conquest of the New World (e.g., Indians, Spaniards & Africans in Los Altos de Jalisco, 1650–1780 by Celina G. Becerra Jiménez). However, the ground-level experiences of the indigenous peoples of Los Altos have not been thoroughly explored due to a scarcity of primary sources. With the support and trust of the residents of La Laguna, their documents provide a unique opportunity to delve into the history and daily life of an indigenous community within a predominantly “white” setting. This material is crucial for research as it offers invaluable insights into the cultural and social dynamics of the region, challenging prevailing narratives and enriching our understanding of its diverse heritage.
