Xinca people

Infobox Ethnic group
group = Xinka
population = 16,214 [2002 census: cite web |url=http://www.ine.gob.gt/Nesstar/Censo2002/survey0/dataSet/dataFiles/dataFile1/var26.html |title= XI Censo Nacional de Población y VI de Habitación (Censo 2002) - Pertenencia de grupo étnico |accessdate=2008-05-27 |publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas |date=2002 ]
region1 = flag|Guatemala
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region2 = Santa Rosa
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languages = Xinka
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footnotes = The Xinca are a non-Mayan indigenous people of Mesoamerica, with communities in the southern portion of Guatemala, near its border with El Salvador, and in the mountainous region to the north.

Their language (the Xinca language) is generally classed as a language isolate with no demonstrated affiliations with other language families, although a relationship with Lenca has been proposed Fact|date=November 2007.

The Xinka (also spelled Szinca or Xinca) are considered to be the oldest inhabitants of southeastern GuatemalaFact|date=November 2007. The Xinka themselves spell their name with a 'k' rather than with a 'c'.

History

In the 16th century the territory of the Xinka extended from the Pacific coast to the mountains of Jalapa. In 1524 the population was conquered by the Spanish Empire. Many of the people were forced into slavery and compelled to participate in the conquest of modern-day El Salvador. It is from this that the names for the town, river, and bridge "Los Esclavos" (The Slaves) are derived in the area of Cuilapa, Santa Rosa. After 1575, the process of Xinka cultural extinction accelerated, mainly due to their exportation to other regions. This also constributed to a decrease in the number of Xinka-language speakers. One of the oldest references concerning this language was presented by the archbishop Pedro Cortés y Larraz during a visit to the diocese of Taxisco in 1769.

Population

In the 2002 National Census, a total of 16,000 individuals identified themselves as Xinka. Today, after a revivalist movement lead by the two main Xinka political organizations in Guatemala, a total of 200,000 individuals located in nine communities, claim to be Xinka.

Today's Political Organization

The first Pan-Xinka political organization was created in Chiquimulilla, Santa Rosa, in 1994. It was called "Consejo del Pueblo Xinka de Guatemala" or COPXIG. The COPXIG was instrumental during the last part of the negotiations of the Guatemalan Peace Accords, specifically during the negotiation the Accord on Indigenous Rights and Identities which was finally signed in Mexico City in 1995.

In 2002, a new political organization was formed under the name of "Consenso por la Unidad del Pueblo Xinka de Guatemala" or CONXIG. The CONXIG was organized by nine Xinka communities in the departments of Santa Rosa and Jutiapa, as well as by the COPXIG. With the support of the Norwegian International Development Agency (NORAD) and the United Nations Verification Mission for Guatemala (MINUGUA), the CONXIG was transformed into the first indigenous parliament in the country, under the name of "Parlamento del Pueblo Xinka de Guatemala" or PAPXIGUA.

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