Don't Forget Chupicuaro

Viejo Chupicuaro is the new name of the original location of Chupicuaro. This is because after the dam was created some of the people from Chupicuaro rebuilt in a new location and name it Nuevo Chupicuaro (New Chupicuaro). The original location is underwater now, so many native and Pre-Hispanic items are underwater. However, in every Summer like a cross of a grave, the tower of the church is still standing. Now it’s just a place to visit and remember the old tales our grandfathers told us, and hopefully new generations won’t forget Chupicuaro.

Time has not been kind to Chupicuaro. During Lazaro Cardenas’ presidential term, there were multiple projects to revolutionize Mexico. In 1939 there were plans to create a dam in the West part of Guanajuato, called the Presa Solis. This was going to create energy for the west area of Guanajuato, sadly, it was in the region of Chupicuaro. Even though the people of Chupicuaro didn’t want to move out, there was not a choice, the plans were settled.

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In the west of Mexico there was a native tribe called Purepechas. Some of the Purepechas settled in Chupicuaro, which means Place of Blue Sky, around 500 BC. Chupicuaro was a great region for cultivation, hunting, and fishing because the Lerma river would cross there. The Purepechas built platforms coated with mud and stone. The Purepechas were artisans, making multiple statuettes and ceramics that they used for their daily lives, it was a great place to live.

La Iglesia is the symbol of colonialism. When Spain came to Mexico to conquer it, Chupicuaro was one of the first places to be colonized. They forced religion to the natives of the land, forcing them to forget about their traditions and adapt to the Roman Catholic beliefs. Time passed and the Spanish people that liked Chupicuaro stayed. This created a mixture between the natives and the Spanish people, who came to call themselves Mestizos. Nevertheless, there were some remains of their native origins still.

Don't Forget Chupicuaro