Abstract

HERNANDEZ BRINGAS, Héctor Hiram; FLORES ARENALES, René; PONCE SERNICHARO, Gabriela  and  CHAVEZ GALINDO, Ana María. Indigenous population in the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico, 2000. Pap. poblac [online]. 2006, vol.12, n.47, pp.155-200. ISSN 2448-7147.

This article analyzes the socio-demographic characteristics of the indigenous population in the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico (MAVM), the country's capital city and most urbanized area. We define as "indigenous" the population of inhabitants that speak an indigenous language or that consider themselves as such. Despite showing better socio-economic conditions compared to those living in rural areas, the urban indigenous population is lost in the immensity of the urban space and suffers higher levels of marginalization, poverty, social invisibility, and worst living standards in comparison to the non-indigenous. In this paper we examine their numbers, characteristics and particularities and compare step-by-step these variables with those of the rest of the population in order to present a comprehensive description of their current situation.

Keywords : indigenous population; urban indigenous population; indigenous women; life conditions; Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico; Mexico.