The Uru Chipaya is one of the most ancient people of South America, originating from 1500-2000 B.C. In the 16th century, the Uru Chipaya represented a quarter of the Altiplano Andean population. Nowadays, their territory represents a mere 920 km2, and the Uru Chipaya population counts little more than 2 000 individuals.
Pictures © Arnaud Trognée
The Uru Chipaya live in the Bolivian Altiplano bordering the salt desert of Coipasa, at an altitude of 3640 m. Their territory is organized in 4 ayllus (or communities): Unión Barras, Aranzaya, Manazaya and Wistrullani. The traditional habitat consists of a group of circular houses built with mud and straw. One house serves as kitchen, another one as room, and so on and so forth.
The Uru Chipaya have managed to go through epochs, amongst others the one of the Spanish Conquest, thanks to their will to preserve customs and language. The authorities represent the guardians of this age-old culture : the jilakatas (equivalent of mayor) and the Council of Ancestors gather regularly.
Pictures © Arnaud Trognée
Dressed in ira, traditional garment, the male Ura Chipaya goes off hunting with a liwi, a rope with two round stones hanging from the ends, which he handles with much skill.
The Uru Chipaya have their own traditions as far as architecture, religion, music, hunting, fishing, dressing, feeding and agriculture are concerned.
Pictures © Arnaud Trognée
Please get in touch with our team in order to discover this people of ancestral traditions.
We propose to organise a tour in ATV to the arid and sandy lands of the Uru Chipaya.
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