Faces of the Inca – Quechua and Q'ero people

Quechua was not only spoken by the Incas but also by their long-term enemies of the Inca Empire- the Quechua people.

- By Aga Szydlik

The Quechua had formed an essential part of the agricultural backbone of Andean civilization since the early 15th century when they were conquered by the Chancas, who the Incas subjugated later in that century.

Through centuries Quechua's political and social institutions were strained by Spanish rule and Catholic Church, further alienating the Quechua from the roots of their society. However, when the Spanish conquered the Inca empire in the 16th century and the Quechua came under Spanish rule, it drastically altered Quechua society as the new tribute system required the Quechua to produce unfamiliar crops for the Spanish at the expense of their food supply.

By the early 21st century, the Quechua led isolated lives as marginal farmers in the high Andes. Their religion is an amalgam of Roman Catholicism and native folk beliefs. They practice their traditional woven handicrafts, spinning wool, and weaving fabrics for domestic use and sale to outsiders.

Moving higher into snowcapped Andies live the Q'ero people, who are the last direct descendants of the Inca. Q'ero people live in one of the most remote places in the Peruvian Andes, rugged elevations of snowcapped mountains. According to the Vanishing Cultures Foundation Inc, six major Q'ero villages are home to about 600 people and 6000 llamas & alpacas.

Q'ero people's lives are Earth-centric and revolve around farming potatoes and mazes, rearing alpacas, and weaving wool. The unique Inca-like patterns characterize their master weaving style. Grass-thatched roofs cover the huts built with stone and earth, preserving the traditional way of life of the Q'eres people.

Aga Szydlik