Jose

Totonac Tuxla, Puebla, Mexico

The Totonac are an Indigenous people of Mexico, centered in the modern states of Puebla and Veracruz but associated with the ancient cities of Tajin, Cempoala and Teayo. Don José Juárez, pictured here, refers to the Totonac as the "three heart race" (based on the etymology: tutun "three" nakú "heart"). He comes from town of Tuxtla in the state of Puebla and has been working as a healer, activist and radio host, from his store Leecatzin (‘intelligence, knowledge) in Passaic, New Jersey. Although there are other speakers of Totonac scattered throughout the tri-state area, there are no organizations nor are they aware of each other’s existence. Don José has been proudly promoting his language and culture on the radio and elsewhere for close to two decades but has never had anyone else to speak Totonac with outside his hometown of Tuxtla.