Abstract

The objective of this article is to know the dynamics and social performances of a group of novo-Hispanic women who were dedicated to sanitary matters mixing, besides herbs and minerals, some rites or sorceress maneuvers. Such influence is partly due, to the permanence and integration of pre-Hispanic cultural elements, but also to those of African origin, which, together with the dominant culture, -the peninsular-, fostered a fusion that was not well seen by the authorities, since they were related to the demonic, and therefore, they were watched and accused of performing crimes against the Faith; Consequently, they were judged by the Provisorato de Naturales or the Ordinary Inquisition. The article is methodologically based on a documentary review, in addition to a bibliographic review, of records located in the Historical Archive of the Provisorato of Morelia (AHPM) and the General Archive of the Nation (AGN), which have been analyzed and interpreted by the historical narrative method, and which have allowed a transdisciplinary approach to the imaginaries and everyday life of Marcela, Martina, Petrona and Rosalia. This allows us to affirm that during the viceroyalty, midwives and sorceresses represented a very important and threatening scaffolding for the dominant group.

Keywords:
indigenous midwives; mestizo midwives; witchcraft; inquisition; provisorato; crimes of faith