Feb.
2003
World
View
People Group Focus:
The Quechua People of Ecuador
The Quechua people of Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru
are the descendants of the Inca empire which was
conquered by the Spaniards in the sixteenth century.
Since long before the conquest until the present,
the Quechuas live dispersed throughout the Andes
mountains. There are some thirty languages and dialects,
many of which are as different from each other as
Spanish and French.
The people are able to use Spanish a bit as a trade
language and as a status symbol, but the real language
spoken in the homes is Quechua. In remote highland
areas, many people still speak Quechua, the language
of the Inca, and live much as their ancestors did
before the arrival of the conquistadors. Though some
Quechuas are Christians, one subgroup, the Highland
Salasaca Indians, are without any witness. Because
they speak their own dialect, most cannot understand
radio programs in the Quechua language. Workers are
needed for Bible translation and to take gospel recordings
in the Salasaca dialect to scattered villages, which
are difficult to reach in the Andes Mountains.
The Quechua People of Ecuador, numbering about 3
million, descended from ancient Incas and live
mostly in the Andes Mountains, primarily in rural,
agricultural areas. The Quechuas are a minority people
group in Ecuador and are, therefore, oppressed and
exploited by the white minority, although political
changes to democracy during the past 20 years have
helped improve the situation of the Quechua.
The Quechua are found also in Boliva
and Peru. The Quechuas of Peru live in adobe
houses with
no windows. At night they close the one door but
in the daytime it is left open to provide ventilation.
Near the main house is a lean-to or another smaller
house which is used to do the cooking and eating.
Often it's
also used for raising guinea pigs, a food saved for
special occasions.
"Cancha", a toasted
corn from large sweet kernels, is a staple in their
diet, as well as potatoes.
Many types of potatoes are found in the mountains
of Peru and are served in a variety of ways. Boiling
the potatoes is the most common way to prepare them.
Soups of different kinds are an important part of
the diet along with "api",
a pudding.
Most Quechuas live in a cool
climate and wear heavy clothing. The women spin
the woollen thread from
sheep, llamas, and alpacas. The men weave the material
to make trousers, ponchos, heavy colorful skirts,
and "mantas", similar to a shawl. Women
wear several skirts at the same time - as many as
fifteen for special occasions. The number of skirts
worn may indicate one's relative importance in the
community.
Many people wear sandal-like shoes made of discarded
rubber tires.
The culture has been strongly molded by Catholicism
and, though there is freedom of religion, rural populations
like the Quechua have not been so receptive to change.
Most Quechua have never heard the gospel in their
own language. Generally the Quechuas believe in a
god, but he is not personal. They transfer their
worship to many saints who are responsible for their
daily affairs. Drunken fiestas are often held to
appease them or to assure desired success in some
activity. They are strongly gripped by fear and superstitions.
A complete set of do's and don't's regarding sickness
and its treatments is widely accepted and used by
these people, along with herbs and other remedies.
Sources:
Caleb Project Nance Profiles – http://www.calebproject.org/upgpray.htm
GLOBAL PRAYER DIGEST, May 26, 1993 edition. Published
by Frontier Fellowship, Inc., P.O. Box 90970, Pasadena,
CA 91104.
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