Seri Coast, Sonora - Com'caák territory

The "Seri Coast" is a stretch of coastline along the Gulf of California west of Hermosillo. It is the remnants of the Seri's (Com'caák) pre-Spanish territory, which stretched from Guaymas to around Caborca, as well as a large area inland from there. Their range was similar to that of the Central Gulf Coast sub-division of the Sonoran Desert.

The Seri 'Indians' retain much of their culture and language because of the continued remoteness of the area, the relatively late incursion into their territory by the Spanish, and the fact that they were never were fully conquered by the Spanish. They remained little-Westernized until the second half of the 1900's, among the latest in North America, and still speak the Com'caák language on a daily basis. A good amount of their knowledge of the sea, marine life, customs and local plant life are also still intact.

The Seri's live in the two small villages of Punta Chueca and El Desemboque. Most of their integration into the Western economy has been through fishing (fish, crabs, shrimp) and crafts including their incredible basketry and fine ironwood carvings, which are a not traditional, but a recent way of bringing income to the tribe. Unfortunately change seems inevitable for the Com'caák as Mexico attempts to develop the northwest coast of Sonora for tourism. The Seri's territory makes up a good part of the mainland central gulf coast subdivision of the Sonoran Desert. It has many strange and interesting plants, beautiful beaches, interesting marine life, and the northern-most mangrove swamps on the West coast of North America. Cardons, other cactus, Elephant Trees, and Jatropha make up a good portion of the plant life in the area. Rain is little and sporadic and much of the plant life has some sort of water storage mechanism (succulent). The Seri Coast is situated between Kino Bay and Puerto Libertad. The area is still a very remote place. I have spent quite a bit of time there and consider it one of the most special places that I know.

June 28, 2007 Washington Post article - Ancient Tribe at a Crossroads - Mexico's Reclusive Seri Confront the Inevitable March of Development