“You don’t have anyone in your family?” the indigenous woman asked me. There was a long pause between us. She stared at me for a while and then moved on. In Guatemala, I was strolling in Antigua city when a Maya woman selling handicrafts approached me. “Would you like to buy this?” she showed me … Read more
Today is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples! When the European colonizers arrived in the Americas, the indigenous population was diminished by 80–90% within the first few centuries mainly due to epidemic diseases the new settlers had brought with them. The colonizers destroyed indigenous empires and butchered natives to capture gold and land. … Read more
The Blackfeet American Indians, or Siksikaitsitapi people, have lived in the Glacier National Park for thousands of years—since the time when the continental ice sheets melted from the region. They were the strongest and one of the fiercest tribes on the northwestern plains. They Blackfeet people believe that the Sun which they call … Read more
Today, some 2 million Native Americans inhabit the United States, making less than 1% of the country’s population. There are 567 federally recognised Indian tribes, each with its own history and culture. Another 150 tribes are currently petitioning for federal recognition. Since the arrival of Spaniards, about 200 tribes have gone extinct. Today, the tribes … Read more
Carmen is one of the many people who travel from San Antonio de Aguas Calientes to Antigua every day to sell handicrafts. She is of Maya descent and speaks the Maya language Kaqchikel as a native language and Spanish as a second language. Despite half a century of European dominance in Guatemala, most of the … Read more
Marta is from San Antonio de Aguas Calientes and comes to Antigua every day to sell handicrafts here. A few of days ago, I took some photos of her and her friends at the Central Plaza in Antigua and promised that I would come back soon to give them the pictures. So today, after my … Read more
Today while cycling uphill in the Central Highlands of Ecuador, I saw a woman working alone with the hay near a 3300-m pass. Nearby, some cows were grazing. “How is life in this village?” I asked her. “Only a few people live here. The weather is cold. There is no other work except agriculture and … Read more
Walking around in the streets of Aluasi, I stumbled upon two Quechua women in traditional dresses. It took me quite a while to convince them before I could take their picture as they were very shy and reluctant to be photographed.Here you see them in traditional Inca dress which is worn by most Quechua women … Read more
Today while cycling under the intense sun of the northern highlands of Peru, I saw a woman cooking something in a giant pot outside her house. Out of curiosity, I stopped and asked what she was cooking. She told me it was Shambar soup made of wheat and beans. To my surprise, she offered me … Read more
Cycling on an isolated dirt road along the River Tablachaca in the northern highlands of Peru, I was stopped by two men who warned me that there was no road ahead and two river crossings were to come. These men were gold prospectors. They were panning for gold in the river bed. One of them, … Read more
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