The
Mixtec , or
Mixtecos, are indigenous
Meso-American peoples of
Mexico inhabiting the region known as
La Mixteca of Oaxaca and Puebla, as well as the state of Guerrero's Región Montañas, and Región Costa Chica, which covers parts of the
Mexican states of
Oaxaca,
Guerrero and
Puebla. The Mixtec region and the Mixtec peoples are traditionally divided into three groups, two based on their original economic cast and the third on the region they settled. High Mixtecs or
mixteco alto were of the upper class and generally more well-to-do, the Low Mixtecs or "mixteco bajo" were generally poorer. In recent times, an economic reversal or equalizing has been seen. The third group is Coastal Mixtecs "mixteco de la costa". This group's language is closely related to that of the Low Mixtecs, and are currently inhabiting the Pacific slope of Oaxaca and Guerrero. The Mixtec languages form a major branch of the
Otomanguean language family.