Our OPL Kichwa Language & Culture Class took place on Saturday, December 2, 2023
Anthropologists often say that “Language is culture.” The indigenous language of the Incan empire called “Kichwa” inside the nation of Ecuador is in grave danger of extinction within a few generations, even though the language today is spoken by a half-million Andean people.
Like every indigenous language, Kichwa holds the most important keys to understanding the rich ancient cultural heritage of its speakers, the lens through which they see the world. Over the past thirty years, powerful social, economic and political influences in Ecuador have persuaded most indigenous families that it is better for the success of their children to use only the economically beneficial English and Spanish languages inside their family homes. As a result, today only 30% of the youngest generation of the Kichwa Otavalo people know how to communicate in the Kichwa language of their own grandparents.
As the language dies, their irreplaceable ancient indigenous culture and knowledge dies with it. Their culture’s unique “way of knowing” could be forever lost to the world. For this reason, Kichwa cultural activist organizations are leading the vital work of preserving and revitalizing their language inside their own communities and regions. The more people who speak and write in Kichwa in public and private spaces, the more possible it becomes to save this language from extinction.
Urku Deborah May spoke to us about the culture and language in a class taught from English to Kichwa, and joined us on Zoom from Otavalo, Ecuador. With our vital Ecuadorian community in Ossining, this was our small contribution to the revitalization efforts of organizations preserving the indigenous language and heritage of Ecuador. Please see the document below for further information.
Gringos learn Kichwa : preparing native English speakers to speak Otavalo : Kichwa - Quichua - Runashimi by Urku Deborah May. Las Vegas, NV: Michael Terence Publishing, 2023.
This is a video by a famous Kichwa Otavalo musical group called Charjayac . It shows actual footage of the Inti Raymi annual summer solstice "dance" week-long ceremony that is a major international tourist attraction. CHARIJAYAC Punyaro Tushuy - YouTube.
Another beloved Kichwa Otavalo band called Humazapas has been nominated for a Grammy award this year. People can hear the Kichwa language and see the traditional dress of the people. Humazapas - Atzingu - YouTube
This video was done by a good friend of the Wichana Foundation, Rafael Perez Anrango. It shows Aya Puncha, the day when families visit the graves of deceased loved ones to share food with their spirits. Again, you can hear traditional Kichwa music being played and the narrator speaks mostly in Kichwa. RUNA LLAKTAKUNAPAK KAWSAY - PORQUÉ EN CEMENTERIO DE COTACACHI OFRENDA COMIDAS - YouTube
MASTER BACKSTRAP LOOM WEAVER JOSE MANUEL FUEREZ OF AGATO
