Annals of Native America

In Annals of Native America, Camilla Townsend explores the Nahuatl-language annals, revealing their authorship and significance in preserving Indigenous history and culture.

In Annals of Native America, Camilla Townsend delves into the rich tradition of the Nahuatl-language annals of colonial Mexico, bringing the xiuhpohualli tradition to life. Through meticulous research, Townsend has identified the authorship of many historical texts, placing them in their rightful contexts and making these stories more accessible to contemporary readers. The xiuhpohualli, or year counts, were a means for the Nahuas to narrate their history around communal fires, ensuring that their cultural memory endured through generations.

The arrival of the Spaniards marked a significant shift in the preservation of these narratives. Young Nahuas adopted the Roman alphabet introduced by the friars, using it to document the historical performances of their elders. These written records, often referred to as annals, were crafted not only by Indigenous writers but also for their communities, free from European influence. Despite their value, these texts have been challenging for modern audiences to comprehend, often viewed as anonymous and obscure.

Townsend's work shines a light on the lives of Nahua historians, tracing a chronological lineage of their writings and intentions. Some viewed their writing as a political act, while others approached it as an art form, aiming to create beautiful and impactful language. In Annals of Native America, readers will find a collection of these remarkable creations, alongside the stories of their authors, providing a bridge between the past and present while honoring the original ethos of their work.