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People group profile · PG024932

The Northern Pame of Mexico

The Northern Pame of Mexico, numbering about 11,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are descended from nomadic Chichimec hunters and calling themselves Xi'iuy, a people of San Luis Potosi whose territory Spain renamed Pameria after conquering it in the 16th century and applying the name Pame to all its inhabitants.

They are an indigenous people in the Central American Indigenous people cluster of the Latin American and Caribbean Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Catholicism, and they primarily speak Spanish.

Pray for the Northern PamePrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Northern Pame people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite: Pame, Northern

Fast facts

Country
Mexico
Population
11,000
Affinity group
American Peoples
People cluster
Central American Indigenous
Primary language
Spanish (spa)
Primary religion
Folk Catholicism
Strategic Progress Index
Engaged yet Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority
Expanding Unreached People Group
Region
Central America, Americas
Location
San Luis Potosí: Alaquines, Ciudad del Maíz, Rayón, Tamasopo municipalities

Where they live

Gospel status

The Northern Pame are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Northern Pame

  • Continue prayer and fasting for this group
  • Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
  • Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Primary religion

Folk Catholicism · Christianity

92% adherents

Primary language

Spanish · Indo-European family

100% speak Spanish

Gospel resources in Spanish

  • Bible available
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

Bibles

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Northern Pame

  1. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  2. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
  3. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  4. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.

Download a prayer guide

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