La Chimba A guide for visitors

La Chimba
A guide for visitors
Written, Illustrated, and Photographed By: Margo Johnson and Gabriel Lopez-Mobilia, 2009
Produced By: CASA Inter-Americana
Produced By: CASA Inter-Americana, 2009
Written, Illustrated, and Photographed By: Margo Johnson and Gabriel Lopez-Mobilia
In Collaboration with: Yacuchimba Community Tourism
Table of Contents
The Community of La Chimba: An Introduction ............................................................................ 6
Ancient History of La Chimba......................................................................................................... 7
Recent History of La Chimba .......................................................................................................... 7
'Mama Transito' (September 10th 1909- May 10th 2009) .......................................................... 8
La Chimba Today ............................................................................................................................ 9
Clothes ......................................................................................................................................... 9
Foods.......................................................................................................................................... 10
Jobs ............................................................................................................................................ 11
Dairy Farming........................................................................................................................ 11
Agriculture ............................................................................................................................. 12
Out-migration......................................................................................................................... 12
Festivals and Music.................................................................................................................... 12
Education ................................................................................................................................... 13
Language.................................................................................................................................... 13
Religion...................................................................................................................................... 13
Medicine .................................................................................................................................... 13
Community Toursim in La Chimba ............................................................................................... 14
Useful Information for Visitors ..................................................................................................... 15
Items to Bring or Buy ................................................................................................................ 15
Safety ......................................................................................................................................... 15
Money ........................................................................................................................................ 15
Water.......................................................................................................................................... 16
Weather ...................................................................................................................................... 16
Things to do in La Chimba ............................................................................................................ 17
VOLCAN CAYAMBE TRAVERSE (Cayambe Volcano) ....................................................... 17
LA LAGUNA DE SAN MARCOS (San Marcos Lake)............................................................ 18
MIRADOR CHURULOMA (Lookout from the hill ‘Churuloma’) .......................................... 18
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AGUAS THERMALES (Hot Springs) ...................................................................................... 19
CASCADA PULIZA (Puliza Waterfall).................................................................................... 19
Flora and Fauna of La Chimba ...................................................................................................... 20
Medicinal Plants......................................................................................................................... 20
The Páramo: ........................................................................................................................... 22
Wild Animals ............................................................................................................................. 22
References and Thanks .................................................................................................................. 23
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4
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The Community of La Chimba: An Introduction
Location: Province of Pichincha,
County of Cayambe, Parish of
Olmedo
-2.5 hrs from Quito and 45 min from
Cayambe (by bus)
-Neighboring communities of Olmedo
and Pesillo
Elevation: Ranges from 2500 to 4000
meters above sea level
Population: about 1500 people, 370
families
Majority Ethnicity: Kayambi
Primary Employment: Dairy Farming
Center of Tourism: Yacuchimba
Welcome to the beautiful Andean community of La Chimba! Here the crisp
mountain air and breathtaking scenery are complemented by a rich culture and
stoic people. La Chimba is the ideal place to get a taste of high-altitude Ecuadorian
wilderness with challenging hikes up the snow covered Cayambe Volcano,
exploring and fishing around the pristine San Marcos Lake, and relaxing in natural
thermal springs. The people of La Chimba are proud to share their way of life and
Kayambi culture with visitors, including traditional foods, dances, and music.
There is much to experience and learn for those lucky enough to travel to La
Chimba.
This guide is intended to provide useful information to you as a visitor so
that you can gain the most possible from your time here. As the authors we are not
experts in the culture or natural surroundings of La Chimba. We have put together
this guide based on interviews and observations within the community, and as such
there is undoubtedly much more that we did not get to hear. It is our hope that this
guide will grow and correct itself with future visitors and volunteers. We further
hope that this guide achieves its goal of opening up La Chimba to those who visit.
From this point of basic knowledge there is much more to learn and discover.
6
Ancient History of La Chimba
Beginning 1500 years ago, before the time of the Incas, the area that is today
La Chimba was home to the Kayambi nation. The culture was made up of a
diffused group of subsistence farmers with an administrative and religious center in
what is today the city of Cayambe. However, in the 1480s the Kayambi nation was
prompted to join with the neighboring Otavalo and Caranqui peoples to create a
military coalition against the invasion of the Inca. Together they resisted the Inca
under the leadership of Nazacota Puento, and they were able to hold them off for
17 years before being defeated. The brief Inca colonization had a great impact on
the Kayambi, as Quechua was imposed on the native language and Inca
worldviews and tradition greatly replaced the old. Following the Inca, a new threat
arrived with the Spaniards. The Spanish brought horses, Catholicism, and a
drastically different culture to the area. The native peoples once again resisted the
colonization through both violent protests and more covert continuation of
customs, often under the guise of Catholicism. This rebellious spirit and upholding
of traditions persisted even through continued oppression in the Colonial and
Republican periods in the country.
Recent History of La Chimba
Despite their resistance, the people in the area of La Chimba remained
oppressed until the 1960’s under the hacienda system. They were forced to work
on land of wealthy hacienda owners (including Galo Plaza Lasso, Ecuador’s
president from 1948-1952) as indentured servants, laboring for the rights to a tiny
piece of land (minifundo or huasipungo). The conditions on the haciendas were
terrible with no pay and little social infrastructure, such as schools or health
centers. Eventually people came together to fight, as they have done historically,
for better conditions. Groups which formed in organized resistance include Pan y
Tierra (1930) and later Federacion Ecuatoriana de Indios (1944), spearheaded by
Transito Amaguaña (p. 8) among others.
In the 1960’s long-needed agrarian reforms lawfully liberated indigenous
communities, including La Chimba, from the hacienda system. Consequently, La
Chimba became a community land cooperative in which the people continued the
agricultural work they were accustomed to but for better pay and with improved
infrastructure. After many years of this cooperative, members of the community
opted to work their own lands individually, and the cooperative came to an end on
7
August 11, 1971 (kayambi.org). The lands were split up, allotting about six hectares
to each family in the community.
Individual lands were progressively split into smaller and smaller pieces
with new generations. Lands were divided between sons and then between the sons
of sons. Today, as a result, many are left with plots of land too small to make an
agricultural living from. The solution for some has been to leave the community in
search of jobs in larger cities or outside the country in places like Spain or the
United States. This exodus from the area has resulted in a loss of culture and
tradition as the youth abandon the ways of their parents and grandparents and
move away. Community tourism (p. 14) has developed in part to address this issue
by providing meaningful jobs within La Chimba and working to strengthen the
cultural identity of the community.
'Mama Transito' (September 10th 1909- May 10th 2009)
Transito Amaguaña, a long-time resident of
La Chimba, can be best described as the
Martin Luther King of the indigenous peoples
of Ecuador. She was "a symbol of the fight
for indigenous justice" and "one of the most
significant people in the fight for the defense
of indigenous people's rights" (INTAG 2009).
During her almost one hundred years of life,
Transito worked tirelessly to better the lives of
indigenous people in Ecuador, and it is partly
due to her efforts that country-wide changes
granting land rights and education were
Photo Courtesy: prensaindigena.org
achieved. Transito was raised on the hacienda
where her parents worked. As hacienda laborers they were little better than
indentured servants, laboring long days for very little pay "without the right to
education, health, or justice" (INTAG 2009). Transito was only able to receive an
education up until the second grade. Despite being married at the age of fourteen
with children soon after, she did not settle down quietly and assume a life like her
parents. She instead became very active in seeking changes from the status quo by
fighting to better conditions for families working on the haciendas. Transito was
active in one of the first organized protests by hacienda workers in Olmedo in 1931.
She also worked with fellow activists Jesus Gualavisi, Nela Martinez, and Dolorez
Transito
Amaguaña
8
Cacuango to found the Federacion Ecuatoriana de Indios (FEI) in 1944. In 1945 she
helped establish four bilingual schools (teaching Spanish and Kichua) in the
Cayambe region.
For her activist work, Transito was accused by the government of supporting
socialist and communist party agendas. She was briefly imprisoned after being
accused of trafficking arms and money. Despite these attempts at governmental
dissuasion, Transito kept fighting for the rights of her people. Her work was
rewarded beyond even her original goals when, in the 1960's, country-wide land
reforms broke up the hacienda system altogether. This great change allowed people
to own and work their own land for the first time in hundreds of years.
Transito passed the second half of her life living peacefully in La Chimba.
Upon her death she was honored with a huge funeral in the community to which
thousands of supporters from throughout the country were in attendance. Even the
president of Ecuador came to pay tribute. Following her death, the government of
Ecuador awarded La Chimba with a large grant to build a memorial and cultural
museum about her life and work. This center, officially titled Centro Cultural de
Resistencia Indigena y Transito Amaguaña, will be located in the old hacienda
house. In this location both visitors and the people of La Chimba can continue to
remember and celebrate this beloved figure.
Transito Amaguaña was a spirited member of La Chimba. She is an excellent
symbol not only in her own right but also for the community as a whole, a people
who have fought for their beliefs, land, and culture
A local couple recalling hard times
throughout the ages.
on the haciendas.
La Chimba Today
Clothes
Traditional Kayambi dress is still worn today by
the residents of La Chimba. Women are often in colorful
skirts (centros), embroidered shirts (camisas bordadas),
felt hats, black or white felt shoes (alpargates), layered
golden necklaces (hualcas), orange or red bead bracelets
(manillas),and colorful wool shawls (chalinas). When
the weather is especially cold, dark leather caps rimmed
in fur are worn. Men are seen day to day in rubber boots
and large ponchos, though they dress up in more traditional samados (fur chaps)
for fiestas.
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Foods
Common foods in La Chimba include soups, potatoes, corn, lima beans, and
meats. More traditional foods are served for special occasions. Some dishes that
you may encounter include:
Roasted Cuy.
Main Plates (Platos de Sal):
Cuy Asado: This dish is typical of the Ecuadorian
highlands and is one of the most important meals
during indigenous festivals, particularly during the
Fiestas de las Octavas in La Chimba . The cuy is
rotated over coals until it is nicely roasted, then
placed over a bed of lettuce alongside potatoes
with a spicy peanut sauce.
Uchujacu: Also known as “Harina de Ocho
Granos” (Eight-grained Flour), this is another
Photo Courtesy: Yacuchimba
typical dish of the indigenous communities of
Cayambe county. It is essentially a thick soup prepared from a mix of
native grains of the region including ground maiz, barley, wheat, morocho
(a type of corn), and quinoa, along with dried lima beans, peas, and lentils.
The hearty soup usually contains potatoes and pork.
Cuyucho: This soup is a variation of Uchujacu, accompanied by cuy and egg,
common in La Chimba.
Drinks (Bebidas)
Chicha de Jora: This typical drink of the Ecuadorian highlands is indispensable
during the various indigenous festivals of Ecuador. An important ingredient in the
drink is jora, which is made from ground corn grains that have been left to
germinate. The jora is mixed into a pot of water with panela (brown sugar) and
other spices like clove and cinnamon until it thickens. The drink is often left to
ferment over a few days before being consumed.
Amor Seco: This liquor, made from rondobalín, a fruit similar to grape, is popular
in La Chimba because it does not cause ‘chuchaqui’ (hangovers) the next day.
Aguas Aromaticas: A variety of aromatic teas are made from herbs such as hierba
luisa, a plant similar to lemongrass.
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Jobs
Dairy Farming
An overwhelming majority of the families
in La Chimba work with dairy cows. There was a
community-wide switchover to this source of
income about five years ago, when it became
evident that dairy would prove more economically
advantageous than growing crops, given the small
amount of land each family possessed. Families
work seven days a week with the cows, waking up
to milk at 4 am and going out again in the
afternoon. It is hard labor maintaining and
milking all of the cows, and there are no
weekends in this profession. The pastures also
must be cared for, especially during the dry
season (June- September) when they require
irrigation.
Photo Courtesy: Yacuchimba
Following the early morning and afternoon milking, a stream of families in
cars, on motorcycles and bikes, riding horses, and walking makes its way towards
the La Chimba Centro de Acopio. The Acopio is a community cooperative
business with over 250 member families. The center has large steel tanks where all
of the milk is collected and
then sold in bulk to Nestle and
other major milk distributors
located in Cayambe. By
coming together and forming a
cooperative, the people of La
Chimba are able to demand a
better price for their milk.
Centro de Acopio.
Forming the cooperative also
qualified the group for non-governmental aid to build the industrial milk collection
and maintenance center (the Acopio). The Acopio also offers other benefits to its
members, including animal vaccinations.
The switch over to dairy has proven relatively profitable for La Chimba.
However, some community members realize that having the entire community so
dependent on one export is dangerous, putting all of their financial fates at the will
of greater market powers. This is one of the reasons that alternative economic
11
development projects, including community tourism (p. 14), among others, are
being developed. These efforts are important both to create meaningful
employment in the area and to ensure that not all of the community’s eggs (or
milk, as it were) are in one basket.
Agriculture
Due to the dairy switchover, agriculture is limited within La Chimba.
Families may grow small amounts of potatoes, lima beans, corn, wheat, and other
staples for consumption in the home, but these are rarely sold in the market. Few
families survive solely on growing crops.
Out-migration
Due to an absence of work in La Chimba, many community members
(especially youth) leave in search of jobs elsewhere. It is common to move to
Quito or out of the country, to Spain or the United States, for employment. Some
families in La Chimba sustain themselves on remittance payments from these
family members. This out-migration is another issue that community tourism and
other economic development projects seek to rectify.
Festivals and Music
Many locals play their own music
during festivities. They dress in traditional
attire and dance, often to the unique and
distinctive Kayambi rhythm called Xuan.
A few festivities celebrated throughout the
year include Carnaval in February (Ash
Wednesday), Inti-Raymi (Fiestas of the
Sun) in July and August, and Las Fiestas
Doradas de Chagra (Golden celebrations of
Photo Courtesy: Yacuchimba
the cowboy) in the second week of August.
The latter is one of the largest celebrations in La Chimba, and it honors many
things, including the date of Ecuadorian land reforms. It also is an event giving
thanks to the sun and asking for a good harvest that year.
The Inti-Raymi festivities are celebrated all over the region by different
indigenous groups. The fiestas generally last for a few months with cultural events
and dancing in all of the participating communities.
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Education
There are two bilingual elementary schools in La Chimba; one in the sector
of Centro Civico and one in the sector of Puliza. The bilingual schools teach
Spanish, Kichua, and some very basic English. There is also a kindergarten (jardin)
and a daycare (guarderia). Students normally go on to middle and high school in
nearby Olmedo or outside cities for more specialized schools. Those who can
afford to continue their education at the university level generally do so in cities
like Ibarra, Guayaquil, Otavalo or Quito. In recent years it has been more common
for youth to envision themselves pursuing university education. However, most do
not have the economic means to do so, instead finding work in other areas.
Language
The primary language spoken in La Chimba is Spanish. A few elders in the
community also speak the indigenous tongue of Kichua. The language has not
been passed on to more recent generations, though efforts are being made to revive
it with bilingual schools. La Chimba has started to cultivate a new pride in its
fading traditions and culture, including the speaking of Kichua, which had been
neglected for many years in the face of economic hardship and globalization.
Religion
La Chimba is a majorly Catholic community (more than 90%) with a
minority of evangelicals. Others retain pre-conquest beliefs, often mixed with
practices of Catholicism.
Medicine
While visits to the health care center in Olmedo and to local pharmacies are
common, many community members still rely on native medicinal plants to cure
common ailments. Even as she neared the age of one hundred, La Chimba resident
Transito Amaguaña (p. 8) refused to go to the doctor, instead staying healthy with
herbal teas and other remedies. Some community members also opt to receive a
Cuy Diagnostico from knowledgeable elders when they feel unwell. In this
procedure a live guinea pig is rubbed vigorously over a patient’s body until it dies.
The animal dies very quickly when it touches the part of the person that is
unhealthy. Once the animal is dead, it is opened up to determine the location of
the patient’s ailment, which is said to be reflected in the guinea pig’s body. Herbal
remedies are then recommended based on the findings. Interested visitors are
welcome to have a Cuy Diagnostico performed on them, though in warning this
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can be a shocking process. For those who encounter more serious medical issues a
hospital is available in Cayambe.
Community Tourism in La Chimba
"With the cultural and natural richness that La Chimba has to offer, it is favorable
to share with the world the natural beauty and traditions that this marvelous
territory contains, including the opportunity to enjoy unforgettable moments and
through this to generate sources of work that benefit the economy of the country."
- Yacuchimba / Condor Huasi (translated from Spanish)
The group Condor Huasi
(Kichua for 'House of the Condor')
was formed in 2003 by a handful of
proactive youth in the community.
Condor Huasi wanted to address the
issues of out migration and cultural
degredation by providing alternative
sources of meaningful employment
within La Chimba. Developing
community tourism was one means of Photo Courtesy: Yacuchimba
doing this. Tourism helps to provide
jobs within the community while sharing the natural beauty and traditional culture
La Chimba has to offer. Since the formation of Condor Huasi, the group has
worked with NGO's such as CASA Inter-Americana to help bring in visitors and
volunteers to the area and to build up tourism infrastructure.
In recent years, the members of Condor Huasi have adopted the name
Yacuchimba as the official title of the community tourism project. The name is a
Kichua word meaning ‘braided river’, referring to the many water sources that
come together in the area, including the Izmuquiro, Sapopampa, Golondrinas,
Jatun Turo, Charpar, and La Chimba rivers. The name ‘La Chimba’ is an
abbreviation of the original name of ‘Yacuchimba’. The members of the group
believe that the title is more representative of the whole community and all of their
projects.
Although the community tourism project in La Chimba is developing
successfully, the members of Condor Huasi realize that tourism is not an end-all
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solution to economic and cultural issues within the community. Because of this,
they are working to build up other means of employment and cultural retention
projects to promote sustainable development in the area. For example, the group
wishes to promote the development of handicrafts and milk products (such as
cheese and yogurt) to sell outside the area. The group also hopes that with time the
whole community will join in their efforts and take part in both the cultural and
monetary benefits tourism and other projects have to offer. In this way all of La
Chimba can be enriched and advanced.
For visitors to La Chimba, there are ample amenities and activities that have
been organized by the members of Yacuchimba. Host families are available to
accommodate guests for as long as they desire to stay. The families provide a
room and three hot meals a day. The remodeled hacienda house is also available to
house and feed guests. Camping is an option for interested visitors. The natural
surroundings of La Chimba offer many great hikes and destinations for tourists,
and the community has specially designed programs to share traditional foods and
festivities with guests.
Useful Information for Visitors
Items to Bring or Buy
-Layers of warm clothes, including hats, scarves, socks and gloves
-Rain gear including a good rain jacket and rubber boots
-A small towel
Safety
La Chimba is a very safe community with very few problems to speak of.
Issues only really come up during fiestas when a lot of strangers are in the area. It
is safe to walk in the streets at night, which are very quiet as most must wake up
early to milk their cows.
Money
The smaller your bills, the better. Change is very useful for small vendors
and bus rides. US dollars are the national currency.
15
Water
Water for consumption is generally bottled or boiled. Host families will boil water
before including it in soups or juices. For your drinking water you can buy a
couple of bottles from a small community store. These can be refilled with boiled
water from your host family (ask: ¿Puede hervir agua para tomar?).
Weather
The weather in La Chimba is pleasant when the sun is out but can become
very chilly and windy at night. Daytime rain is also common, especially during the
wetter months of the year (November- February).
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Things to do in La Chimba
There are many activities for visitors to take part in both within and around La
Chimba. Within the community you might…
Try traditional foods (see p. 10)
Experience Andean dances
Check out the ancient petro glyph in the local school (Petroglipho La Chimba)
Learn how to milk a cow with your host family
Attend fiestas (p. 12)
Learn about traditional crafts, such as embroidery, from locals
Experience a Cuy Diognostico to detect any bodily ailments (p. 14)
There are also many natural attractions to visit around La Chimba. Certified
guides are available to take you to each destination. Get your hiking boots on and
check out:
VOLCAN CAYAMBE TRAVERSE
(Cayambe Volcano)
Location: SE of La Chimba
Duration: (Day Trip) 1 hour by car, 6-7 hours
hiking
Bring: Waterproof boots (for snow), rain
jacket, lots of water, warm clothes
Description: steep hike on trails and through
snow, may rain
Photo Courtesy: Yacuchimba
The Cayambe volcano is covered in snow all
year long as it is 5790 meters above sea level. It is the third highest peak in
Ecuador. Found in the western part of the ecological reserve of Cayambe-Coca, it
is covered by an enormous glacier. The majestic white volcano is relatively
untouched by tourists, compared to other more well-known locations. Hike up
through the Páramo (p. 22) to the glacier with certified guides, and enjoy the
beautiful scenery along the way.
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LA LAGUNA DE SAN MARCOS (San Marcos Lake)
Location: East of La Chimba in the Cayambe-Coca Ecological Reserve
Duration: 1 hour each way by car
Bring: rain jacket and warm clothes
Description: fishing, hiking, ride a cable cart
(tarabita) through forest and over the San
Jeronimo River, horseback, biking
Located in the Cayambe-Coca ecological
reserve neighboring La Chimba, the beatiful
Photo Courtesy: Yacuchimba
San Marcos lagoon is surrounded by a variety
of flora and fauna typical of the Andean Páramo. Here, tourists can fish and enjoy
a scenic view of the Cayambe volcano. Visitors are also able to hike or ride
horseback around the ecological reserve, and take a ride in a cable cart (tarabita)
through trees and over the San Jeronimo river nearby. Camping is also an option
for interested visitors. The Ministry of the Environment in conjunction with
members of Condor Huasi have worked hard to protect the lagoon and its
surroundings.
MIRADOR CHURULOMA (Lookout from the hill ‘Churuloma’)
Location: South East of La Chimba
Duration: (Day Hike) 6-7 hours total
Bring: wind jacket, water
Description: steep hike, can be very windy,
beautiful view of La Chimba and
neighboring communities and of Cayambe
Volcano
Photo Courtesy: Yacuchimba
Right at the edge of La Chimba, the Mirador Churuloma offers a breathtaking view
of the entire community from the top of a steep hill that is thought to have been a
lookout for pre-Incan soldiers. Traditionally, crowds of people from La Chimba
would climb to the top of the hill to call out to father God to gift them with rain.
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AGUAS THERMALES (Hot Springs)
Location: East of La Chimba
Duration: 20-30 minute car ride + 1 hour hike
Bring: swim suite, towels, boots, water
Description: steep ups and downs to pools
The hot springs were originally discovered
in the 1960’s when people were herding
their livestock in the area and saw vapor
coming out of the ground. When they came
across the pools of hot water, many came to
Photo Courtesy: Yacuchimba
believe that the area was sacred and often
came to purify themselves in the springs. Today the 42°C waters are known to
originate from the volcanic activity of the nearby Cayambe. Visitors can bathe in
the hot springs while enjoying the diverse vegetation of the region.
CASCADA PULIZA (Puliza Waterfall)
Location: South-West of La Chimba
Duration: (Day Trip) 30 minutes by car + 5 hour hike up
Bring: rain gear, boots, a picnic lunch
Description: very steep, diverse vegetation with large trees, fishing, considered a
sacred place where ancient peoples would give religious offerings
The Cascada Puliza is considered as a sacred location where religious offerings
and purification rituals were traditionally held by the people of the area. The
beautiful waters are surrounded by diverse vegetation and wildlife. Visitors can
visit by hiking, horseback, or biking.
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Flora and Fauna of La Chimba
La Chimba is located in one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world. There are
hundreds of species of plants and animals in the area. The following are a few
more common types that community members use or think are typical:
Medicinal Plants
Ajinjo: pigs are often cleaned with this plant to get rid of fleas
Alfalfa: consumed as a tea for stomach pain
Aliso: medicinal leaves are heated and wrapped around fractured bones, pulled
tendons, and bruises
Atusara: red berries were traditionally used as a soap/ antibacterial
Cachserajas: a spiky plant which can be boiled with juyangilla and used to purify
of bad spirits (mal aire) and to increase blood flow
Caballo chupa (cola de caballo): this reed is made into a tea to treat liver problems
Chilca: red stemmed plant with green leaves, common to area, used to clean strips
of pork meat along with flour and salt
Chulco: long stem with small green leaves, boiled into a tea to calm people
experiencing rage
Eucalipto (Eucalyptus): succulent stem and leaves used for coughs and
congestion (just like menthol)
Guara Callo (lengua de vaca- cow tongue): large leaves which look like cow
tongues are coated with egg whites and placed on the body to lower fevers.
Hierba Mora: narrow leaves and small green berry, mashed and applied to bruises
as anti-inflammatory
Hortiga: very spiky leaves are extremely painful to the touch and lead to skin
irritation and itching for a day or so, traditionally rubbed on the body to cleanse of
evil spirits and made into tea to treat stomach problems
Huantog: Hanging bell-shaped flowers can be white, red, or yellow. Contain a
potent drug that many have been taught to avoid, but is sometimes used to calm
aggressive cows.
Juyangilla: Boiled with cacheserajas, corn hair, and lenasa seeds to treat mal aire
(depression/ bad spirits) and to increase blood flow
Manzanilla: plant with many clusters of small yellow flowers, made into a tea to
settle the stomach and used in the eyes like eye drops to relieve irritation.
Marco: plant used to cleanse people and homes of bad spirits (mal aire), often
accompanied by hortiga.
Matico: triangular, rough-leaved plant whose juice is used on infected bug bites
and wounds
20 Penca
Menta: fragrant small-leaved herb used to make aromatic waters used to warm the
body
Mingari: red flower clusters with hard green leaves found growing on trees, used
to bathe after giving birth*
Penca: a spiky plant common to La Chimba
with many uses. Its sweet juice is used as an
energizer (and a delicious treat, see foods p.
10). It is also used to mark land boundaries
between pastures. Its strong fibers are also
dried and worked with to make traditional
artisan goods.
Pinán: medium-sized leaves are green on
one side and white on the other, boiled to
bathe mothers who are recovering from
giving birth*
Pulisa: small round leaves clustered onto thin stems, used to bathe in after
birthing*
Pumamaqui: large jagged leaves are named after the hand of the puma, used for
covering maiz grains while making jora, an ingredient in chicha. Also used to
bathe after giving birth*
Sapo Jigua: a water plant which sticks to the sides of rocks in the river, used
during births
Sauco: slender green leaves boiled with water that is used for bathing to relieve
fevers.
Sunfo: plant which grows close to the ground in the páramo (p. 22), brewed into a
tea for warmth and to calm the stomach.
Tifo: small green leaves with tiny white seeds, sweetened and made into a tea with
baking soda for upset stomach
Tilo: large green leaves with large round white flower, boiled to treat colds
Toronjil: leaves are brewed into a tea to help treat anxiety
Tupial: almond-shaped leaves, used to bathe after birthing*
Uvilla: plant with small orange fruit fed to babies to calm upset stomachs and to
help them learn to speak sooner.
Valeriana: medium sized spongy leaves brewed as a tea to relieve fevers
Yana Chanqui (black foot): a small plant with small green leaves and a black
stem, used to purge the stomach
Yana Quillo: leaves are yellow on one side and green on the other, used to bathe
women after they give birth*
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Yura Fanga: leaves are white on one side and green on the other, used to bathe
after birthing*
*all boiled together to create an infusion used for bathing women who have just
given birth
The Páramo:
Around La Chimba is the high-altitude area called the Páramo. This unique
biome (found only in the ecuatorial region between Costa Rica and Peru) is
distinguished by its “harsh climate, high levels of ultraviolet light, and wet, peasy
soils” (Lonely Planet). Due to these difficult conditions only low-level shrubs and
tenacious grasses can thrive. To see a bit of the Páramo all you have to do is look
to the many hills and mountains around La Chimba. For example, you can take a
hike up Churuloma (p. 18) where you will find yourself knee-deep in Páramo
grasses blowing in waves in the exhilaratingly strong winds.
Wild Animals (located in and around La Chimba):
Andean Spectacled Bear
Birds
Condor
Deer
Grass Hoppers
Rabbits
White Tailed Deer
Wolves
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References and Thanks
INTAG Newspaper. “Fallecio Amaguaña”. (July-August 2009). Pablo Vetancourt.
Year 9, number 60.
Palmerlee, D., Grosberg, M., & McCarthy, C. (2006). Ecuador and the Galapagos
Islands. 7th Edition; Lonely Planet.
Information on history and Kayambi culture retrieved from
www.kayambi.org/chimba.html (July 2009)
Some photos and information on traditional foods and landmarks attained from
Yacuchimba promotional pamphlets, group proposals, and website (July 2009)
Many thanks to the people of Pijal including our host family and Yacuchimba
members for all of their time and assistance in completing this guide. We
would not have been able to represent the community had everyone not been
so generous with their help. Thank you!
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