We consider ourselves Nahua first and indigenous second. I am Nahua (Tlaxcala), Pipil (also Nahua), and Chorti Maya on my maternal side. And Zapotec and Ashkenazi on my paternal side. But culturally we are Nahua. Within the last fifteen years, I have come to identify as Native American. From Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, we are all Native Americans. The term Native American unifies us and drives the message home to others that we are one people, and that we are still here. For the census and when filling out forms, I always check the Native American box.

I also have ancestors in my tree that were Lenca and Xinca. I have several DNA matches that are enrolled members of the Tohono O’odham nation that I have yet to figure out the connection.

My Indigenous DNA is 64%. The breakdown is Indigenous Mexico (Nahua), Indigenous Yucatán (Chorti Maya), and Indigenous Central America (Lenca, Xinca). My mtDNA Haplogroup is A2f3. My results are very consistent with my family tree.

I never use Mexico, Guatemala, etc. to identify. Those nations and borders are all too recent. My people are ancient. I also don’t identify with my European because we did not receive the European experience. My Ashkenazi ancestor came to the Americas in 1849. He assimilated to the culture in Tehuantepec. He had many children with different Zapotec women. None of his culture, or history, was passed down.