Xavier Quijas Yxayotl was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco of Huichol heritage (his indigenous name, "Yxayotl," is Nahuatl for "tears"). Originally an artist, in the 1970’s he left city life and moved to the mountains of Jalisco and Nayarit, Mexico to live with his Huichole relatives and the Tepehaunes people. There Xavier studied and played pre-Columbian instruments, participating in ceremonies and rituals. He developed a passion for making museum quality indigenous instruments – Mayan and Aztec drums and flutes, turtle shell drums, rainsticks, log drums, rattles, gourds.

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