The Ministry of Culture announced that information on the history and culture of Quechua peoples has been published in its Official Database of Indigenous or Native Peoples.
This action marks the end of the first stage of dissemination of 54 indigenous or native peoples identified so far.
According to the Ministry, the Quechua people include a large and varied group of longstanding Andean populations, whose mother tongue is Quechua in its different varieties.
Chopccas, chankas, huancas, kanas, q’eros and cañaris are some of the identities. Together they comprise most of the indigenous population in the country.
Quechua people has developed a complex and technologically advanced culture, and ancestors were characterized by their ability to adapt to geographical and climate conditions of the Andes. Nowadays, these people live mainly in the highlands of Peru and in neighboring countries such as Bolivia and Ecuador.
Despite the importance of Quechua peoples in the national life, the Peruvian State is poorly informed about the population’s identities in the Andean context.
In fulfillment of its function of carrying out and updating the Official Database of Indigenous or Native Peoples, the Ministry of Culture has gathered information that deepens Quechua peoples’ history, distinctive institutions and ancestral practices.
In this framework, the Ministry of Culture will initiate the publication of the first reference list of Quechua people communities. The first publication will be available on July 17.
The Ministry noted the Official Database of Indigenous or Native Peoples is permanently updated and does not establish any right.
In this sense, indigenous peoples’ collective rights are recognized regardless of whether its communities or representative organizations are listed in the database.
This way, the Ministry reaffirms its commitment to recognize Quechua peoples as individuals with collective rights, and ends the first stage of dissemination of 54 indigenous or native peoples identified so far.
(END) NDP/MAO/RMB/MVB
Published: 6/23/2015