Since Time Immemorial: Native Custom and Law in Colonial Mexico

Yanna Yannakakis' book "Since Time Immemorial" explores how Native custom, a legal category used in colonial Mexico, acquired local meaning and changed over time. She analyzes sources ranging from missionary and Inquisition records to Native pictorial histories, royal surveys, and Spanish and Native-language court and notarial documents, showing how imperial legal orders were built on the ground through translation and implementation of legal concepts and procedures.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 10 October 2023
Publisher: Duke University Press

Since the dawn of time, Yanna Yannakakis has embarked on a captivating journey to unravel the origins of Native custom, a legal category that played a pivotal role in disputes surrounding marriage, self-governance, land, and labor in colonial Mexico. Through meticulous research, she meticulously outlines how Native litigants, armed with this legal framework, infused the European concept of custom with local significance and witnessed its evolution over time. Yannakakis delves into a diverse array of sources, ranging from missionary and Inquisition records to Native pictorial histories, royal surveys, and Spanish and Native-language court and notarial documents. By expanding the scope of her analysis to include historically marginalized actors and highlighting spaces beyond the courts, such as Native communities, parishes, and missionary schools, she unveils how imperial legal orders were not merely imposed from above but also organically constructed through the translation and implementation of legal concepts and procedures.

In her profound exploration, Yannakakis argues that Indigenous claims to custom, which initially appeared to be a means of preserving the past, held the potential to confront historical change and pave the way for the creation of new rights for the future. By embracing this legal category, Native litigants sought to assert their autonomy and reclaim their ancestral lands, challenging the dominant colonial narratives and asserting their rightful place in the legal landscape. Through their unwavering determination and innovative legal strategies, they not only secured their rights but also laid the foundation for future generations to thrive and assert their cultural heritage.

Yannakakis's work is a testament to the power of historical inquiry and the significance of recognizing the voices and experiences of marginalized communities. Her meticulous research and insightful analysis shed light on the complex interplay between law, culture, and society, providing a valuable contribution to our understanding of the past and the possibilities for a more inclusive and equitable future.

Weight: 624g
Dimension: 166 x 238 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478016984