<論説>メキシコにおける「先住民」の定義とメキシコ市内旧先住民村落の「地元民」 (特集 : 民族)

Abstract

メキシコの首都メキシコ市には、約三〇〇もの旧先住民村落が存在している。しかし現在は市街地となっており、旧来の住人だけでなく、元々縁のなかった外来者も居住している。このような他者との相互関係において、旧来の住人には「ナティーボ(地元民) 」という自称が生まれた。「ナティーボ」には固有の組織や価値観があり、それは、筆者が以前調査したオアハカ州の先住民村落の人々のそれと類似している。しかしながら、旧先住民村落の「ナティーボ」は「先住民」と呼ばれることはなく、そのように自称することもない。そこへ今世紀に入って、「オリヒナリオ」という呼称が彼らを指す用語として使われ始めた。そして現在、急速に自称の一つともなりつつある。そのプロセスを、メキシコにおける「先住民」や「民族集団」の定義と絡めながら論じた。

There are many former indigenous villages located within Mexico City. Their number is said to total 291. These former settlements of indigenous people are today urban neighborhoods in which newcomers with ne ties to the place as well as the original inhabitants reside. Living together with others in these circumstances, the original inhabitants began to call themselves nativos. Although the term nativos shares the same roots with the English term "natives", it does not mean indigenous peoples, but is used to mean "those who were born in the area". The nativos call the inhabitants who have moved into the area avecindados or residentes. The nativos have their own social organization and sense of values that are similar to those of the people of an indigenous village in the State of Oaxaca whom the author has previously investigated. In regard to ritual ceremonies in particular, such as Catholic festivals or fiestas and funerals at local cemeteries, they have privileges as well as a strong sense of duty. Nevertheless, the nativos of the former indigenous villages of Mexico City are not called indigenas by others nor do they call themselves that. From the late 1990's, however, they have begun to be called originarios, and in recent years, the term originarios is more commonly used for self-reference by the nativos of various former indigenous villages of the capital. The word is rarely used when they are conscious of newcomers, residentes, but it is utilized when they need to appeal for their right to maintain or strengthen their tradition, culture and the use of their communal land. In other words, originarios is more a political term that has been applied by the nativos when addressing others outside their residential area, such as government officials and governmental or academic associations. The appellation originarios provides a sense of legitimacy and a positive connotation in Mexico. The word indigenas contains on the other hand a negative image that is often linked with "poverty", "ignorance", and "exploited people". In terms of definition, as it ls clear from this case study, both the words nativos and originarios are not associated with any ethnic group in Mexico. In the face of statistics, they are "citizens" of the Mexico City and the United Mexican States. The "classification" of indigenous peoples as well as ethnic groups are not defined essentially by their traditions or culture, but historically constructed, depending on the social circumstances and who constitutes "the other."