Xavier Quijas Yxayotl was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and is of Huichol (Wixarika) heritage. In the 1970s he left urban life to live among Huichol and Tepehuan relatives in the mountains of Jalisco and Nayarit, where he studied pre-Columbian instruments. He is recognized as a leading authority on reproducing and performing traditional Mayan and Aztec instruments, and six of his seven albums have been nominated for Native American Music Awards, twice for Flutist of the Year.

Mood and energy: Ancient, resonant, meditative. Recommended uses: reflection, meditation.

Sacred Ground Confidence Score: 4 out of 5 stars   Final recommendation: Approved.

Why this artist belongs in Sacred Sounds: A Huichol musician whose focus on reconstructing pre-Columbian Mesoamerican instruments broadens this collection’s scope to Indigenous Mexico, distinct from United States tribal nations rather than folded into them.