Listening to Inca Pacha

OUR MOUNTAINS ARE MELTING

From time to time news say that El Alto within 10 years there may have serious problems of water supply. ¿More shortage? ¿How can it be? El Alto is located about 4100 over sea level and it has around 1.000.000 inhabitants most of which are from aymara indigenous origen. It has a growing population and according to statistical data it is the second biggest city in Bolivia. Now it has 11 districts, 8 urban and 3 rural. According to Fejuve, there are 600 registered neighborhoods distributed in this city. A high porcentaje of its population is young since families tend to have more than two children. Unfortunately, many people doesn´t have yet access to drinkable water.

El Alto is supplied by water that comes from mountains. However, mountains through the years have been losing their white layer and it is said that in some years they will have lost all the ice and snow they have. Up to now, this is the main source of drinkable water, which after processed by Epsas is distributed to the neighborhoods in El Alto. Chacaltaya was one of the most well-known snow-covered mountains. Local and foreign people used to go there to sky, but now an important part of it doesn´t exist any more. Only rocky mountains stay as remembrance of what 10, 20 and 30 yeas ago was completely white.

Additional conditions difficult access to water. A lot of people arrive from rural area to El Alto and establish wherever they can. Because of lack of money, they live in neighborhoods where there is neither drinkable water nor sewer system. Some of them dig a hole which should be about three metres deep until they find water. More or less in November, it starts rainy time and it is other possibility for neighbors to collect water. At the end, lack of water added to existent levels of poverty many times result in illnesses.

There is an heterogeinity of situations. I have water at home but some of my neighbors don´t. This is a serious problem for the families. In my case, I share water with other family. Basilio and Juana have four children. They are renters. The house where they live doesn´t have drinkable water. Whenever they need, they use a hose to collect water from my house and at end of the month we divide the cost of water invoice to pay.

It is important that all the families could have water at home but it is not always posible. In August 16th. neighborhood there are only public places from where, people can collect water. Generally, children carry water to their houses.

La Paz is also supplied by water that comes from the mountains. For example, many small towns sorrounding Illimani mountain benefit from its waters for domestic use. Illimani is one of the most visible mountain. Local researchers say that it is also losing its snow. Part of the State Constitution says that “Hidric resources in all their states are strategic, vulnerable, finite resources and have a social, cultural and environmental role”. Mountains are considered Achachilas by indigenous peoples here. Achachila is a spiritual guide to which rituals are made in certain dates.

Bolivian Constitution, says that “Water is a fundamental right for life. The State will promote use and access to water based on the principles of solidarity, reciprocity, equity, diversity and sustaintability”. State will protect and guarantee the prioritarian water use for life. Although it is being installed water nets, it seems that population grows quicker and a combination of factors: lack of the proper technology, human and economical resources complicates the situation. So, it is probably that when all citizens may have drinkable water system at home, there won´t be water because all the snowed-covered mountains would have melted. El Alto has water problems now and nature doesn´t wait.. Please, stop warming the planet: ¡We need water!.

Picture 1: Part of Chacaltaya mountain with a view of Illimani mountain.

Pictures 2 and 3: Parts of Chacaltaya mountain.

UNTIE THE COLONY...

"Untie the colony to built the plurinational", says a phrase included in the invitation for a third conference being developed since three months ago within a process of "retrieval of the ideological identity of indigenous movements and leaders".

Last January 25th, more than 51% of the population in Bolivia approved the new Political Constitution which recognizes all the indigenous peoples and afrobolivians. As part of the process of deep changes being held in this country, it was created a Decolonization Viceministry, leaded by an indigenous historian and an afrobolivian woman as one Director of this State office.

According to the invitation, this event will take place July 31, at 18:30 at the Vicepresidency Hall, at Mercado Street in La Paz, Bolivia.

SOME CHANGES

Last days La Paz, Bolivia has been celebrating 200 years of the independence, 1809-2009. However, something important to say is that indigenous peoples were not even allowed to enter the main square of La Paz, Murillo´s Square, during some decades of the Republic. However, along the time, indigenous peoples have been gaining positions in different levels.

INDIGENOUS REBELLIONS

Last June 26th. it was developed a seminar called "Indigenous Rebellions" at the Hall of the Vicepresidency of the Plurinational State in La Paz, Bolivia. Leaded by the Decolonization Viceminister, Roberto Choque Canqui, this was the second activity within a program of six events whose objective is to recover the ideological identity of the indigenous movements and leaders in Bolivia.

During his speech, Choque Canqui, briefly described the situation of indigenous peoples. "Since ancient times, indigenous peoples were owners of theirs lands in community, but with the arrival of invaders they started to lose them. This situation, got worse and worse with the time. Later, in 1874 the Government promulgated a law which would allow indigenous families to own lands individually. This law produced a lot of conflicts within the communities because before that law, ownership was in common ant they were accustomed to live that way. Taking advantage of the application of that law of 1874, strange people, with the help of local authorities, started to take lands from indigenous families by force and then, to keep these families as slaves, making them work without any salary. This situation, would produce frequent rebellions in different towns in rural areas of La Paz, Cochabamba, Potosí. Other reason to rebel during decades was the demand for schools for their children". Here, I have to point out that for years there was a high degree of illiteracy in indigenous adult men but mostly in indigenous young and adult women. In March 2006, President Evo Morales, inaugurated a big campaign to teach all illiterate people in Bolivia how to read and write. The first part of this program ended last year and this year started the second part and according to President Morales, this will continue with other steps.

GRAN PODER PARADE IN LA PAZ, BOLIVIA

Last Saturday it was developed one of the biggest parades in Bolivia. It is "Gran Poder" Parade which takes place every year in La Paz, Bolivia. About 58 groups participate in this parade starting in the neighborhood called Cementerio dancing kilometers and kilometers until to arrive to downtown. It generally starts early in the morning about 7:00am. and ends 2:00am. on Sunday. Each group of dancers aproximately dances about five or six hours from the beginning until the end of the route.

Generally, a big part of the citizenship participates in this event. This year, President Evo Morales accompanied this celebration too together with other autorities.

An author refers that during 1600, it was accustomed to make Inti Raymi (Celebrations to the Sun) celebrations in the Andes using lots of gold, silver and mullu (a kind of subtance used in rituals). As in the past, during Gran Poder parade female dancers used to have earings and ornaments made of gold.

Different kind of dances can be seen during this parade. Cullaguada, Llamerada, Caporales, Morenada, Diablada, Tinkus, Tarqueada and others.

I INDIGENOUS CONGRESS 1945

228 years ago, May 18, 1781 one of the indigenous leaders Tupak Amaru, his family, his wife and his nearest followers were killed in front of a huge quantity of people. Amaru and his wife Micaela Bastidas before being killed, had to see how the other prisoners were killed. Some of them were hanged, other were cut their tongues before being hanged.

It seems to be a long time, however, from generation to generation the history of our leaders is kept in the memory of our peoples. As last January 25, it was approved in Bolivia a new Political Constitution where all the indigenous peoples in Bolivia are recognized, it is very important than younger generations know about our history to preserve our identity.

So, last Thursday it began a serie of conferences called "Retrieval from ideological identity from Bolivian movements and indigenous leaders", whose first conference was about the I Indigenous Congress celebrated in 1945. This Congress in 1945 was developed with the participation of the President of the Republic, Gualberto Villarroel. Since that time, it is the first time that the Plurinational State supports the realization of a conference to remember the Indigenous Congress. During the opening ceremony Vicepresident, Alvaro Garcia Linera, remarked the importance of these types of events taking into account that all the indigenous peoples are now included in the Constitution. Two historians were in charge of explaining the context, the development and the results of this Congress in 1945. But, I think that one of the main conclusions of this conference was to develop the II Indigenous Congress in the future.

QUECHUA SINGER, GREGORIO MAMANI

Gregorio Mamani was born in North Potosi, Bolivia. He writes songs both in Quechua and Spanish, Here we have one of his compositions.

MELODIES FROM QUECHUAS

Norte Potosi is the name of a group that belongs to quechua indigenous people located in the south part of Bolivia, Potosi. They write and sing their songs both in their mother language, Quechua and Spanish.

PRESIDENT EVO MORALES, AN INFLUENTIAL LEADER

This midday May 1st. at Murillo´s Square President Morales took part in the celebration of labour day. During his speech, he congratulated the bolivian workers and signed a number of decrees that favor their situation as a labour force. Later, in the afternoon, we knew through the magazine Time, that President Morales, is the 10th. more influential people in the world according to the votation process received through this magazine.

According to this maganize, he received 1,477.789 votes which allowed President Morales to become one of the most influential people.

JALQAS DANCE FROM NORTH POTOSI

Music and dance that belong to the northern part of Potosí. Potosi is one of the cities of Bolivia. They are singing using quechua, one of the indigenous languages in the bolivian Andes.

MEETING NAVIGATING TITICACA LAKE

Yesterday, early in the morning President Evo Morales, Vicepresident Alvaro Garcia, all the Ministers and Viceministers departed from Tiquina Strait to Sun Island in Titicaca Lake on a ship built by the loca navy. The purpose of this travel along the Lake was twofold. For one part, to promote the Titicaca Lake as a natural wonder of the world and for other part, to work in order to decide some policies that could help empoverished population.

During the whole day in downtown La Paz, people were voting for Titicaca Lake and at Sun Island President Morales and all the State autohorities voted too. According to results, this Lake is occupying the first place in the category F about rivers and lakes. If you want to collaborate with your vote you can follow the link Titicaca Lake.

As mentioned, three resolutions were taken as a result of the meeting developed along the travel. One is the Decree about creation of the National Council of Cultures. Other Decree is concerned with a bonus to be given to pregnant women and to children between 0-2 years. During, his speech President Morales, remarked the decolonization process that is living Bolivia and an important part of this process is to recover the knowledge, history, literature, music and dance left by our ancestors.

Titicaca Lake has a special energy, energy which I hope could have filled in the hearts of our governors to continue working to benefit all the bolivian population.

Bolivian President in Qatar Summit

Bolivian President, Evo Morales Ayma, participates in the II Summit of arab and latinoamerican countries that takes place in Doha, Qatar. According to the information provided by bolivian chancelor topics of this big event are addressed to talk about cooperation in the cultural, economic, scientific, technological and educational areas. However, one of the most important topics is concerned with alternative proposals to solve problems derived from climate change that is affecting and will affect to all our countries.

Whether here or there, the focus on human beings in our relation to mother land is a central point, since if we continue damaging our planet ¿what will there be for our children in the future?

MINISTRY OF CULTURES

For the first time in the history of Bolivia, culture acquired a important place within the structure of the Bolivian State. Called before Viceministry of Cultures, it became Ministry of Cultures since last February with two Viceministries: Viceministry of Decolonization and Viceministry of Interculturality. A month later, March 6th. members of two indigenous peoples were named as Viceministers, ceremony that took place at Government House. With the presence of President Evo Morales, Vice President, Alvaro Garcia, Minister of Cultures, Pablo Groux, an indigenous aymara historian, Roberto Choque Canqui, and an indigenous quechua economist, Esthela Vargas, were officially designated as Viceministers.

During his speech, President Morales, said that the new authorities have a challenge and huge responsabilities with the country, which seeks to include indigenous peoples and non indigenous people in order to have a unified country. He added that, all of us are native, some are millennial natives in reference to indigenous peoples that inhabited these lands since ancient times and others are contemporary natives.

KALLAWAYA INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

Last Friday March 20th, Kallawaya, one of the ancient indigenous peoples in Bolivia, where visiting La Paz in order to show their products, mainly hand knitted clothes and ornaments. Different communities brought not only their products but also shared their music and dance.

Some years ago, they were declared by Unesco as inheritance of humanity and considering this situation and other aspects, they asked to the Parliament to have a representative within the next Plurinational Assembly which will be elected next year in Bolivia. According to what they say, they expect that their petition could be accepted by parlamentarians.

INDIGENOUS LEADERS

Our most important leaders are Tupak Katari and Bartolina Sisa. Although, it has gone long time, we always remember them because of their strength and courage in their fight against oppression and abuses, against forced labour in the silver mines in Potosi, against all the forced and high payments indigenous peoples had to do to the autorities in those times, before and after March 13, 1781.

Last, March 13th, in different places of El Alto and La Paz, indigeneous organizations developed meetings to remember our leaders.

EL ALTO ANNIVERSARY

Last March 6th. El Alto celebrated its 24th. anniversary. As it happens every year all the social organizations participated in this important event.

MY BLOG´S BIRTHDAY

It is my 85th. post since last year. Last February 28th. Indigenous Bolivia was born far from the place where I live now. Thanks a lot to the people that pushed me to start blogging in English.

From the beginning, I had one idea in my mind, to write about my indigenous origen and my culture. It is very important for me to continue writing about the different events, life, music, dance, etc.

I start a new year, a second year. I feel really happy.

Thank you very much for visiting this blog and you are always welcome.


¡Jallalla Indigenous Bolivia!

DANCING TARQUEADA

Music and dance in Huacullani, Tiwanaku, La Paz, Bolivia.

JALLU PACHA IN HUACULLANI

Jallu Pacha is an aymara expression and it means time of rain. During this time, in rural area people thank to mother land for the good production. So, yesterday Monday 23 Huacullani, a rural town was de place where people from the different communities from Tihuanacu meet there to thank to pachachamama (mother land) and to celebrate the production of potatoes and other local products.

Each rural community arrived to the main square of Huacullani with flowers, music and dance playing local rhytms such as tarqueada, pinkillada.