The Quechua are an Indigenous people of the Andes, primarily in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, and Argentina, and descendants of the Inca civilization. Their language, also called Quechua, was the Inca Empire’s official language and remains widely spoken across the Andes. Quechua communities traditionally live in rural areas, practicing agriculture with terraced farming techniques suited to mountainous terrain, cultivating crops like potatoes, maize, and quinoa, and raising llamas and alpacas for wool and transportation.
Community cooperation, known as ayni, is a core value, reflecting their emphasis on mutual aid. Spirituality is deeply tied to nature, honoring mountains (apus) and other natural elements. The Quechua are known for their vibrant, symbolic textiles, with patterns representing cultural stories and using natural dyes. Though they face economic and cultural challenges, the Quechua remain resilient, preserving language, traditions, and values that continue to shape Andean culture and identity.
Posted into PEOPLE OF LATIN AMERICA @people-of-latin-america-JanetteSpeyer
