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The Seri people (also known as the Comcaac) are an indigenous people in the Mexican state of Sonora. The etymology of this exonym comes from the Yaqui term that means "man of the sand", the endonym that is used is comcaac [koŋˈkɑːk]; singular: cmiique [ˈkw̃ĩːkːɛ]. The majority of group members are fluent speakers of the Seri language, cmiique iitom. Their traditional territory includes the islands of Tiburón and San Esteban.

The number of people in the group continues to grow. In 1952, 215 people were registered; in 2006, there were more than 900 people registered (according to the Seri government).

Seri territory

Seri flag.

The Seri territory in the state of Sonora spans an area of approximately 211,000 hectares of land and is located on both continental land as well as land from Tiburon island, which is located in the Gulf of California off the central coast of the state.

The Seri primarily inhabit the towns of El Desemboque (Haxöl Iihom, 29°30'13"N, 112°23'43"W), the municipality of Pitiquito, Punta Chueca (Socaaix, 29°0'54"N, 112°9'42"W), and the municipality of Hermosillo located on the coast of Sonora. Following the fishing cycles, the location of some individuals and their relatives can vary between all fishing territories which are located along 100 km of coast.

Primary school in Punta Chueca (Socáaix).

View of the southern part of Tiburón island.

Scenery from the southern part of Seri territory.

Punta Chueca (Socáaix) with Tiburón Island in the background.

Scenery of Cardon in Sonora (Mexico).

Scenery in the southern part of Seri territory.

Scenery from the southern territory of the Seri and a part of Xepe Coosot.

Infrastructure

Through a road to the south, the residents of Punta Chueca communicate with the village of Bahía de Kino. Towards the North, a road connects Desemboque with the city of Puerto Libertad. Each village has scholarly resources for students at preschool, secondary, and primary levels.

History

In the pre-Hispanic period, the territory of the Seri was located between the mountains, the Encinas desert, and the Gulf of California. The territory extended from the Altar desert in the north to the Yaqui river in the South and from Horcasitas in the east to the nearby islands of Tiburón, San Esteban, Patos, and Alcatraz in the west. As a nomadic people, the Seri travelled across an area that corresponds to fourteen current municipalities of Sonora. It was believed in this period that the Seri people were organized into seven bands, divided into their own clans based on their paternal lineage. On a daily basis, there was leader figure within the clan. Those who were named as a leader were only done so under extraordinary circumstances like during war or difficult hunting, and fishing seasons. Only the most capable person was appointed to fulfill this position as leader.

The recognized Seri groups were:

• xiica hai iic coii ('those who live towards the wind'), group one who inhabited an area (to the north of the other groups), which boarded the north of Puerto Lobos, the south Bahía de Tecopa and was limited by the eastern río San Ignacio, they were also known as tepocas and salineros.
• xiica xnaai iic coii ('those who live to the south'), group two which was located from the coast of Bahía de Kino to the hills of Guaymas. They were known as the tastioteños.
• Tahejöc comcaac ('people of Tiburón Island'), group three which inhabited the northern, eastern and western coasts of Tiburón Island as well as the mainland coast in the front of the island; located north of where the xiica xnaai iic coii were located. They were known as the Seri or Tiburones, meaning sharks. The Spanairds called the island “Tiburón,” researchers and locals use the term “Tahejöc” but the entomology of this term has been lost over time.
• heeno comcaac ('desert people'), group four which inhabited the central valley of Tiburón Island.

• xnaamotat ('those who came from the south'), group five which inhabited a small strip of land betwen the xiica hai iic coii and the Tahejöc comcaac. This group may have also been a known group of warriors from up north known as the upanguayma.

• xiica Hast ano coii ('those who live on the island of San Esteban'), group six who inhabited San Esteban Island as well as the southern coast of Tiburón Island – also known as the Coftéecöl.

The Hant Ihíini comcáac ('the people of Baja California'), or Hast Quita quihíizitam ('those who were born in Hast Quita' in Baja California) are also briefly mentioned.

The persecution of the Seri people by the Mexican and Spanish military began in the mid 18th century. Military expeditions led by the Mexican military were led against the Seri and continued to decimate their population and territory until the early 1900's. The Comcaac people were the antithesis of what the Spanish conquistadors were looking for. Their territory was not very useful, they did not have accumulated wealth, they did not produce enough to make the conquest profitable, and they were not suited as laborers to cultivate and serve as they were not familiar with that lifestyle. Because of this, the Seri people preserved their autonomy and culture for much longer than other indigenous peoples. During the colonial period, the Jesuits, who tried to evangelize them and teach them agricultural practices, were the most steady contact the Seri had with outsiders. None of their efforts were successful and the Comcaac always returned to their desert lifestyles which is why they were always considered an unlawful group, mainly by white people. The Spanish, then later the Mexicans, tried to effectively kill off all of the Comcaac which lead to the near total annihilation of the group. However, the Seri people were never formally conquered or evangelized during that time. Little by little they were confined to a part of their territory, decimated in number and forced to accept exchanges with indigenous folk.

By the independent period, the gang organization system had been dismantled and were almost completely located on continental land. However, throughout the first two-thirds of the 19th century they were persecuted and practically annihilated by both Mexican soldiers and ranchers. Some of the Seri people managed to seek refuge on Tiburon island.

The scarcity of water and animals for hunting, along with various diseases, were the predominant factors as to why the Seri people abandoned their refuge on Tiburon Island and returned to the continental land. They were first temporarily hired as fish merchants and ranchers and later settled down. Among the external causes that allowed their successful return to the mainland was the crisis of 1929, which caused a large migration of poor people to cities and agricultural center in the North and Northeast of the country. This increased the consumption of fish and other marine products that are cheaper than beef. From that moment, the Seri people began to occupy an essential role in the economy of commercial exchange and the use of money in their market operations. This began a period in which rapid structural, organizational, and cultural changes occurred.

Language

The Seri language, cmiique iitom, is a language isolate because there is not sufficient evidence of a relationship between it and any other language. Currently the majority of the population is bilingual to a certain degree, although they prefer to speak their own language in their local activities. Speakers maintain an enormously rich oral tradition that preserves their history and culture. In the last few decades, a very small part of this tradition has presented itself in a written form.

The Seri language has a plethora of terms in order to describe kinship relationships many of which describe both the sex of the subject and the sex of the speaker. For example, there are four terms to describe grandparents, each term specifies to which parent the grandmother or grandfather belongs to. Additionally there are many terms to describe siblings which account for the age and sex of the referent and speaker.

The Seri maintain their language with great vitality. In place of adopting Spanish terms to designate new cultural elements that have been added to their lives, they continue creating new terms in Seri.

Health

The preservation of knowledge on traditional therapies and techniques may be lacking among the Seri. They possess knowledge about some plants that can be used to cure mild illnesses but the study of Seri ethnomedicine is still being investigated today. The biodiversity of their arid climate and inability to maintain standard agricultural practices and livestock means that the knowledge of their ethnomedicines is very valuable. Marine resources like mollusks and algae were used for medicinal purposes in addition to terrestrial plants. The nomadic lifestyle of the group caused changes in their diet and patterns of consumption which has generated varying health problems like diabetes.

There is presently a lack of medicinal specialists amongst the Seri. For traditional medical treatment, potential Seri patients travel to nearby communities or the state capital in order to receive treatment. Women still maintain some knowledge of traditional medicines and sell traditionally prepared medicinal items like soaps and creams to sell to outsiders.

There is record of two previously known medicinal specialists in Seri history. Cola conáajj was a midwife who used resources from regional flora and fauna to assist with pregnancy and labor. Ziix haaco cama was a noted spiritual specialist who also utilized traditional Seri medicine.

Housing

In Seri villages, houses are mainly made of concrete blocks with a concrete or asbestos roof, although it is posible to find some houses made of cardboard. In general, these houses consiste of a kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and one or two bedrooms. This type of housing was promoted and supported by the federal and state government between 1974 and 1984.

In fishing areas it is still possible to find traditional houses that are made of shelters made of grasses and other materials (traditionally loggerhead shells) on top of an ocotillo frame (Fouquieria splendens). These shelters only house a single family and are suitable for a nomadic lifestyle. This type of construction is used for traditional festivals as well.

Territory and ecology

An eagles nest on top of a giant cardon in Sonora (Mexico).

The current territory of the Comcacc has a total area of 211,000 ha, of which 91,000 were provided through ejido rights and 120,000 of which were provided through communal endowment. Due to the territorial extension with which they were endowed and their small population, the Seri, along with the Lacandones, can be considered the indigenous people with the greatest land possession in Mexico. However, the difficult ecological conditions of their land makes it very hard for the Seri to utilize their territory for agricultural purposes. Due to this, the Seri have never practiced traditional agricultural practices throughout their history.

In general, the surface of Seri territory is flat, apart from some elevations like the Seri mountain range, the Kunkaak mountain range, and some parts of the coastline. The soil of the land is generally shallow and in some parts up to 80% stoney. In the valleys, the soil is loamy and sandy. Due to the permeable characteristics of the soil there are no rivers, lakes, or important currents except for the San Ignacio river that runs from the nearby mountains and ends near Desemboque, but this river is still temporary and has a weak flow. Tiburon Island is provided with five watering holes in total which are currently not enough to sustain the total population.

The climate of the region is hot with rainfall of 75 to 200 mm per year; the primary climate is extremely dry or desert conditions. The temperature of the region can reach minimums of -8.5°C in the winter months of December to February and highs of 49.5°C between the months of June and August. With such dramatic regional characteristics, the development of agriculture has been impossible up to now and maintaining livestock has has been difficult due to water scarcity. Therefore, the main resource that is relied on is the 100km of coastline that the Seri have for their own exclusive use. Despite the aridity of the desert, the Seri have knowledge of how to utilize the flora and fauna of the area. Fishing, particularly harvesting crabs and scallops, along with traditional ironwood carvings, elaborate basket making, and necklace work have been the main sources of income for the Seri family. In general, Seri are not used to leaving their territory in search of work.

Seri knowledge of their physical environment has resulted in the publication of material about Seri ethnobotany which showcases how the Seri have preserved a lot of information about their centuries-long coexistence with the flora and fauna of their region.The severe ecological conditions of their environment and its changeability is a driving force behind their vast knowledge of flora and fauna of the area as the ability to remain nomadic due to these conditions was a necessity.

Social organization

The Seri came to establish systems of reciprocity and resource distribution through kinship relationships which ensure the total survival of the group. One of these systems is named quiimosim, which gives every member of the tribe the right to request part of the food that is consumed in the community without prior invitation. another is canoaa an hant cooit, the right to ask for fish to eat from any panga that comes from the sea. Through an additionally complex system, assets are also shared between families.

With the formal integration of the Comcaac into national life, they have been forced to name a series of authorities such as a supreme council, a communal commission, the comunal property council, and a fishing cooperative society.

Cosmology and religion

The Seri did not develop a complex system of religious governance. Their interpretation of the world, its rites, its festivals, and other cultural manifestations are closely related to nature and the biological and social aspects of the group.

Their main traditional rites are linked to the onset of puberty and death. Their songs and stories revolve around the sea, animals, and ancient feats of heroes and warriers. Having not been formally evangelized in colonial times, they do not have the Catholic elements that many other indigenous groups have.

In the Seri area there are no Catholic churches or priests. There are two Protestant temples of the Apostolic Church of the Faith of Jesus Christ, a church that many people in the community belong to. Despite the cultural mix, they maintain their language and cultural practices that associates them directly with nature.

Music

The Seri have preserved much of their indigenous music, which distinguished them from almost all other ethnic groups in Mexico. Instrumental music and most traditional instruments are less commonly in use but songs are still an important part of Seri culture. Instruments like foot drums or rattling gourds may be used to accompany quick and repetitive Seri singing. The rhythms and percussion provided by dancers may also be used to accompany songs.

Singing is a cultural tradition practiced by many Seri of all ages in order to describe the world around them. Some songs even feature knowledge of their ecological environment and the ethnobotanical aspects of their culture which has allowed them to survive under difficult environmental conditions. While there are virtually no written records kept by the Seri, their songs have served as libraries of knowledge about their history, beliefs, and culture. Songs are often repeated, with many songs being sung in quantities of four.

There are various types of songs, but not all are well represented in modern day and others are more commonly heard in public performances. The most interesting ones are often sung in private situations. The Seri are reluctant to formally record many songs, including many songs of mourning, because they either believe they should not be performed out of context or they are too personal.

The types of songs include (1) icoosyat 'songs of the giants' (2) iquimooni 'songs of victory"(3) icooha 'songs of mourning' (4) hacáatol cöicoos 'songs of the shaman' (5) cmaam cöicoos 'love songs to women' (6) icocooxa 'lullabies' (7) xepe án cöicoos and hehe án cöicoos 'songs of nature' and (8) icoos icooit 'songs for dance' (which is the most visible type of song because it can be seen at various cultural events, however, it is also the least typical of the Seri.)

Notes and references

Bibliography

• Bahre, Conrad J. “Historic Seri Residence, Range, and Sociopolitical Structure.” Kiva, vol. 45, no. 3, [Maney Publishing, Arizona Archaeological and Historical Society], 1980, pp. 197–209.
• Bowen, Thomas. (1983). "Seri". Handbook of North American Indians, William C. Sturtevant, general editor. Southwest. Alfonso Ortiz, volume editor. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.: 230–249.
• Bowen, Thomas y Mary B. Moser. (1995) "Seri". Encyclopedia of world cultures, David Levinson, editor in chief. Middle America and the Caribbean. James W. Dow (editor) y Robert V. Kemper (associate ed.). Volumen 8. G. K. Hall: Boston, 232-235.
• Felger, Richard S.; Moser, Mary B. (1985). People of the desert and sea: ethnobotany of the Seri Indians. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.
• Marlett, Cathy Moser (2014). Shells on a desert shore: Mollusks in the Seri world. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.
• Marlett, Stephen A. “Why the Seri Language Is Important and Interesting.” Journal of the Southwest, vol. 42, no. 3, Journal of the Southwest, 2000, pp. 611–33.
• Narchi, Nemer E et al. “An ethnomedicinal study of the Seri people; a group of hunter-gatherers and fishers native to the Sonoran Desert.” Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine vol. 11, no. 62. 11 Aug. 2015.
• Salmon, Enrique. “Learn My Songs: Seri Survival and Cultural Resilience.” Anthropology Now, vol. 4, no. 3, Taylor & Francis, Ltd., 2012, pp. 15–23.
• Schindler, Seth M. (1981). The material culture and technoeconomic system of the Seri Indians: an experimental reconstruction. Dissertation: Southern Illinois University.
• Spicer, Edward H. (1962). Cycles of conquest, the impact of Spain, Mexico, and the United States on the Indians of the Southwest, 1533-1960. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.
• Tweed, William C. (1973). The Seri Indian frontier of New Spain, 1617-1762. Texas Christian University.
• Tweed, William C. (1975). The Seri Indians of Sonora, Mexico, 1760-1790. Texas Christian University.
• Vennum, Thomas. “Locating the Seri on the Musical Map of Indian North America.” Journal of the Southwest, vol. 42, no. 3, Journal of the Southwest, 2000, pp. 635–760.

Peer Review

Hi Tess! This looks like an interesting topic and I think that you have a lot of information to work with!

Just a couple comments:

• you have a lot of sections right now and you probably don't need all of them in your article; I think having less sections will make it easier for you and you can focus on having quality info on a few main subjects
• I love all of the pictures and graphics, they add a lot to the page
• Ya sé que la traducción no es completo pero cuando lo revisas, pon la atención en la gramática; falta algunas "commas", como en el primer párrafo, dice, "IN 1952 215"
• Me gustan los temas comeos "craftwork" y "housing" porque nos introduce a más de la cultura de la Seri
• If you wanted to put in another graphic, podrías añadir una mapa de donde vive la gente seri

You're doing fantastico!