HISTORY

Representing the Indigenous Salvadoran Diaspora

National Association of Indigenous Salvadorans (ANIS) has served in the Indigenous Salvadoran community in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area since the 1990s. ANIS seeks to protect and promote Indigenous Salvadoran cultures, languages, customs, and people. Our people are: Afro-Descendientes, Kakawira, Lenca, Maya, Nahua Indians, and Ladinicized Descendants.

Origins
ANIS was born in 1952 in San Antonio del Monte, Sonsonate, El Salvador, known as "Union Comunal Salvadoreña". The community had grown to a national platform and was chartered on October 12, 1954 as Asocacion Nacional Indigena Salvadoreña - "National Association of Indigenous Salvadorans". Founders were: Adrian Esquino Lisco, Andres Refugio Sanchez Ramirez. 

In 1954, Rosendo Esquina Ceren was chosen as the first Hereditary Chief of ANIS. In 1980, Adrian Equino Lisco inherited the title from his father, Rosendo Esquina Ceren, and became the second Hereditary Chief of ANIS. In 2004, Adrian Equino Lisco divided his chieftainship among three of his sons: Hilario Crespin Esquina (Vitalicio Chief), Margarito Crespin Esquino (Internacional Chief), and Fidel Crespin Esquina (Political, Social, and  Juridical Chief).

On Piscataway Territory
Through Chief Esquino Lisco's advocacy, the Indigenous Salvadoran community has gained siblinghood with local Indigenous people. In 1990, ANIS was one of the signees of the Declaration of Principles of the League of Indigenous Sovereign Nations of the Western Hemisphere (LISN), prepared and ratified on Piscataway Indian Nation and Tayac territory.

Rematriation
In 2020, ANIS Grand Chief Hilario Crespin Esquina became aware of community abuse committed by the 2nd International Chief Margarito Esquino Lisco, and he was immediately removed from his position. Margarito Esquino Lisco has not undergone a community accountability process and instead abandoned ANIS to form a new heritage group. A Pro Tempore International Tribal Council was chosen, and ANIS has begun a process of rematriation in hopes of healing community that was harmed by Margarito and forwarding the Indigenous Salvadoran community in the DC Metropolitan Area. Anastacia Lopez Lopez, a Nawat Speaker from Santo Domingo de Guzman, and former ANIS Board Member, was elected International Chief by a unanimous vote by the International Tribal Council. Her labor as Co-Founder & Director ANIS’s virtual Nawat language school, Tamachtiluyan Shuchikisa An Ne Nawat, has serviced DC, Maryland, and Virginia Tribal Members during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Recognition by the United States
In 2006, the US Congress passed Resolution H.R. 721 naming August 6, Salvadoran-American Day, in recognition of August 6, 1525: the colonization of Nawat Nation and establishment of the Villa de San Salvador, where Nawat Ancestors lost their lives and rights to their territories ("where the indigenous ancestors of El Salvador fought historic battles against the submission and abuse of Spanish colonialism in order to preserve the life and liberty of the Cuscatleco population".

On August 6, 2021, Washington DC Mayor Bowser proclaimed the day "Salvadoran-American Day" in part to "commemorate the battles of El Salvador's Indigenous Cuscatleco ancestors for life, liberty, and freedom," documenting a recognition of DC's Salvadoran community as descendants of American Indians. 

The ANIS International Tribal Council is planning a Constitutional Convention which will convening in Fall 2021, to formally unite the diasporic bands of Afro-Descendientes, Kakawira, Lenca, Maya, Nahua Indians as an Indian Tribe in Washington, D.C.