The Mixe are indigenous to the eastern highlands of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. The name Mixe derives from the Aztec word for cloud; the Mixe call themselves “people who speak the mountain language.” They are also known as the “never conquered” for their strength and fierceness. The Mixe people have produced clayware for centuries, using natural undyed materials and working exclusively by hand. Each piece is fired in the open air using wood and agave leaves, giving rise to the unique burn marks that are characteristic of Mixe pottery.