Rural Communities
When we talk about the Q’ero Nation, we refer to the territory that includes the rural communities of:
- Japu
- Quico
- Marcachea
- Q‘ero Totorani
- Hatun Q’ero
All of which are located in the Andes mountain range in the province of Paucartambo, southeast of the city of Cusco.
Geography
The geography of the place is abrupt with glaciers, inter-Andean valleys and jungle brow areas. The maximum altitude is 5600 and the minimum 1400 meters above sea level (Irco vilca, 2016).
Q’ero Nation Importance
The importance of the Q’ero for the Peruvian culture was given thanks to the Cusquenian anthropologist Oscar Flores Ochoa.
He refers Núñez del Prado (2005) that: “in 1949 in the festivities of Paucartambo Oscar observed the presence of some men, who despite sharing the humble poverty of the other peasants kept a composure of unusual dignity”(p,18).
These men claimed to come from the Q’ero hacienda, from this moment he decided to make an expedition to this place.
When he arrived at the hacienda, he realized that they still conserved customs and traditions that could be traced back to the Inka period, regarding agriculture, llama and alpaca herding, textile art, social organization and their spiritual customs.
Also at this time, the indigenous communities in the Andes were exploited by the hacienda system, suffering abuses and injustices. The Q’ero also had to go through this, being rented to employers in the haciendas of Cusco (Núñez del Prado, 2005). Thanks to Oscar and other factors that influenced the agrarian reform, the peasants began to take possession of their lands.
Myth of Q’ero Inkarri
In Q’ero we found the famous myth of Inkarri that in a few words refers to the transforming force that promotes order instead of chaos (Getzels, 2005). As well as the philosophy of life as the spiritual sense of Pachamama, the Apus as guardians of human wellbeing, among many other information concerning the philosophy and religion of Andean man.
That is why this town keeps strong elements of a tradition that comes from many years ago.
From the 80’s onwards many of the Q’ero came down from their community to work especially in offerings and other jobs.
Currently many of the Q’eros went to cities like Cusco and other provinces, to seek education and better economic future for their families keeping with them the Andean life wherever they go.
Author: Joan Rukmali De la colina Roman
References:
- Flores, J. (2005). Los q’eros. Últimos descendientes de los incas. En J. Flores, J. Núñez del Prado y M. Castillo (Eds.), Q’ERO, el ultimo ayllu inka.
- Peter Getzels (2005). Los ciegos: visión de la identidad del runa en la ideología de Inkarrí-Qollam En J. Flores, J. Núñez del Prado y M. Castillo (Eds.), Q’ERO, el ultimo ayllu inka.
- Irco Vilca. Mirtha (2005). La cultura como recurso económico: caso Q’ero (2005-2010). Tesis UNSAAC.
