Although the “Treaty of Guadalupe Disturnell Map” has been in the possession of the United States government since US expansion to the Southwest, the “Ancient Homeland of the Aztecs” site was not publicized until 1998, first published by professors Patrisia Gonzales & Roberto Rodriguez. There have been countless blogs and books written about the discovery. In fact, there has been so much widespread coverage of the site, that most would think that the map was used as a source during the Chicano Movement, especially El Plan Espirtual de Aztlán. Rather, El Plan Espirtual de Aztlán, the indigeneity of Chicanos, and the creation story of Aztlán has been kept alive solely through oral tradition.
In my constant research of Chicano history, I stumbled on “Diego Gutiérrez Map” during a 6th Sun Ridaz podcast on YouTube about Chicano identity. After I researched, the “Diego Gutiérrez Map” was only publicized as recent as 2014 by professor Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl. The “Diego Gutiérrez Map” contains Chicana and Aztlán on the map in close proximity of the “Ancient Homeland of the Aztecs” site of the “Treaty of Guadalupe Map,” 285 years before US expansion and only 70 years after Spaniard colonization. In addition, with the recent designation of the island-town of Mexcaltitán, Nayarit, MX as a "Pueblo Mágico" by the Mexican government, which is both claimed to potentially be Aztlán and the closest representation of Tenochtitlan before colonization - I just couldn’t help but ask why aren’t there any blogs, books or documentaries covering this?
Professor Roberto Rodriguez has also expressed that the “Treaty of Guadalupe Disturnell Map” has also been used by other Native American nations to claim land and sovereignty as an indigenous people. Could this be the missing link that can prove the indigeneity of Chicanos, in the way the Yaqui have been split by the border? Could this be the legal remedy to give Raza the right to claim dual citizenship and cross the border freely as an indigenous people? To make matters more interesting, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has recently sourced the 1607 Dutch East India Company Map that cites the US Southwest as Mexican America, or better translated, Aztec America or Mexica America. With that said, I thought it would be important to further build on the topic.
“Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Disturnell Map” c.1847: Disturnell, J. (1847) Map of the United States of Mexico: as arranged and defined by the several acts of the congress of said republic, and constructed by the best authorities . New York: J. Disturnell. [Map] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2004627240/
Closer look at the “Antigua Residencia de los Aztecas” site translated to "Ancient Homeland of the Aztecs" on the “Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Disturnell Map” 1847.
Historically, Chicanos have referenced the "Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Disturnell Map" c.1847, laying out land stolen from Mexico. In this map, there is a site located in the four corners region of the US Southwest titled "Ancient Homeland of the Aztecs," known as Aztlán, where the world renowned Aztecs first began their journey southward towards Mexico City to become the Mexica Empire. Its mythical origin story is depicted on the Mexican flag.
After the Mexican Revolution (1920), the journey back to the US Southwest would inspire folklore, resistance & a new identity defining itself by the experience of young Chicanos on stolen land proudly referred to as Aztlán.
“Diego Gutiérrez Map” c.1562: Gutiérrez, D., Cock, H. & Lessing J. Rosenwald Collection. (1562) Americae Sive Qvartae Orbis Partis Nova Et Exactissima Descriptio. [Antwerp: s.n] [Map] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/map49000970/.
Closer look at the "Chicana" and “Aztlán” spelled “Astatlam” sites on the “Diego Gutiérrez Map” c.1562
The "Diego Gutiérrez Map" c.1562, 70 years after Spanish colonization, and only 40 years after the conquest of Mexico was made public during the 1940's but circulated in European museums among the bourgeois class. For decades, what could have been the most important document to la Chicanada was kept under wraps. In 2014, professor Ruben Arellano Tlakatekatl made a discovery: two sites or cities on this map near Yuma, Arizona and El Pinacate, Sonora, MX titled "Chicana" and what appears to be an attempt to inscribe "Aztlán."
Imagine the Pachucos taking them sailors on with this in their hearts! Imagine the Chicano Movement with this ammo!
Closer look at "Tenochtitlan, what is now modern Mexico City, the capital of the Triple Alliance or Aztec Empire" site on the “Nurenberg Map” c.1524: Cortés, H., Edward E. Ayer Digital Collection (Newberry Library). (1524) Nurenberg map of Mexico City [Map] Retrieved from the Newberry Library, https://collections.carli.illinois.edu/digital/collection/nby_eeayer/id/4344/rec/1.
Actual photo, birds eye view of the modern island-town of Mexcaltitán de Uribe, Nayarit, MX.
What may be the strongest evidence of Aztlán or at least its documented journey southward, is the recent designation of the man made island-town of Mexcaltitán, Nayarit, MX as a "Pueblo Mágico" by the Mexican government (2020). Mexcaltitán predates the Aztec Empire, & like Mexico City, its island is man-made & constructed over a lake. Aztlán has been described in codices as a land of heron birds, the island of Mexcaltitán is full of them. Just like Mexico City, the island has its pathways forming a cross to represent the tradition of the four directions. Mexcaltitán's origin story is captured in an ancient stone tablet, mirroring the origin story of the Aztecs, except with a heron instead of an eagle.
Wherever Aztlán may be, it remains in the hearts & spirits of la pinta, our varrios, on college campuses, in public office, in our homes and in oral tradition.
