Since Mexico gained independence from Spain, the Huichol have had to contend with Spanish-Indians, or mestizos , who have attempted to take over Huichol landholdings. Today the Huichol are no longer as isolated and are beginning to become a part of the Mexican society and economy. Most Huichol provide for themselves by growing their own food. Maize, beans, squash, and chilies are common crops. These crops are cultivated with animal-drawn wooden plows and digging sticks.
Most families own livestock such as cattle, donkeys, horses, pigs, chickens, and turkeys.
Huichol men wear brightly embroidered cotton or muslin shirts as part of their ethnic costumes. They also wear leather sandals and braided palm hats. Women wear colored skirts and blouses and decorate themselves with bright necklaces. Marriages are arranged by the parents when the children are very young. Huichol usually marry between the ages of fourteen and seventeen.