Resumo

CRAMAUSSEL, Chantal. El sistema de cargos en San Bernardino de Milpillas Chico, Durango. Culturales [online]. 2013, vol.1, n.1, pp.69-106. ISSN 2448-539X.

The system of cargos is the main political structure of the Tepehuan communities. In San Bernardino de Milpillas, Church and civil traditional cargos are separated. The latter seem to be closer to local cultural traditions, but Church cargos have also been radically transformed, as Catholic priests are excluded from the ceremonial acts. During the Candlemas festival, the new occupants -called "employers"- take office; this ceremony shows that the civil and religious aspects of the cargos cannot be considered separately. Military, judiciary and economical functions form all part of the cargos, but have fallen out of use over time because of violence and the local forest enterprise which provides significant resources. However, for the system of cargos the mestizos of Milpillas have become integrated into the tepehuan political organization and culture.

Palavras-chave : system of traditional cargos; tepehuanos; miscegenation; Durango; forestry.