Who Are the Rarámuri?
The Rarámuri (meaning "those who run fast"), known externally as Tarahumara, are an indigenous people of Mexico's Sierra Madre Occidental, primarily in the state of Chihuahua. Numbering approximately 70,000-90,000, they inhabit the dramatic Copper Canyon (Barrancas del Cobre) region—a network of canyons larger and deeper than the Grand Canyon. The Rarámuri are legendary for their extraordinary long-distance running abilities, regularly covering over 100 miles in traditional footraces.
Born to Run
Rarámuri running culture gained international attention through Christopher McDougall's book "Born to Run." Traditional footraces called "rarajípari" involve teams kicking wooden balls along mountain trails for distances exceeding 100 miles over days. Runners wear huaraches—simple leather sandals with thin soles—or run barefoot. From childhood, the Rarámuri run as transportation through rugged terrain, developing extraordinary endurance. When Rarámuri runners compete in ultramarathons, they often win against elite athletes, usually wearing traditional dress and huaraches.
Canyon Life
The Copper Canyon's extreme terrain—with depths exceeding 1,800 meters and dramatic temperature variations—shapes Rarámuri life. Families may maintain homes at different elevations, moving seasonally between highland and canyon floor. Caves serve as homes, granaries, and ceremonial spaces. Corn, beans, and squash form dietary staples, supplemented by wild plants and occasional meat. The canyons' isolation historically protected the Rarámuri from Spanish colonization; missionaries arrived but never fully dominated. This isolation continues limiting access to services while preserving cultural independence.
Tesguino and Community
Tesguino (corn beer) holds central importance in Rarámuri social and spiritual life. Community work parties (tesgüinadas) combine collective labor with tesguino drinking, strengthening social bonds. Ceremonies, celebrations, and conflict resolution involve tesguino consumption. The beverage connects the Rarámuri to corn—their sacred crop—and ancestors who established traditions. While missionaries condemned tesguino as promoting drunkenness, for the Rarámuri it remains essential to community cohesion and spiritual practice.
Contemporary Challenges
Drug cartels have invaded Rarámuri territory, bringing violence, forced displacement, and pressure to cultivate marijuana and opium poppies. Logging and mining threaten traditional lands. Drought and climate change affect subsistence agriculture. Many Rarámuri have migrated to cities, particularly Chihuahua, where they face discrimination and poverty. Yet Rarámuri communities persist, maintaining language, ceremonies, and running traditions. Recent efforts promote sustainable tourism and traditional crafts as alternatives to destructive development or criminal economies.
References
- McDougall, C. (2009). Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race
- Kennedy, J. G. (1996). Tarahumara of the Sierra Madre
- Merrill, W. L. (1988). Rarámuri Souls: Knowledge and Social Process in Northern Mexico