Indigenous Culture

Indigenous Culture 1

100

This Incan city high in the Andes was rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham

Machu Pichu

200

This Bolivian dance, blending Indigenous and colonial influences, is performed in elaborate costumes during festivals.

Diablada o Morenada

300

The capital city of the Aztec Empire, it was built on a lake and is now Mexico City.

Tenochtitlán

400

This sacred beverage made from fermented corn plays a key role in Indigenous rituals in Central and South America.

Chicha

500

This 1932 massacre in El Salvador, resulted in the deaths of thousands of Indigenous people.

1932 Indigenous massacre (La Matanza)

Indigenous Culture 2

100

This Indigenous group, whose name means “lord of the jaguar,” was one of the main pre-Columbian peoples of western El Salvador.

Pipil

200

The Huichol people of Mexico are especially known for this intricate type of colorful artwork made with beads or yarn.

Huichol beadwork (or yarn art)

300

This feathered serpent god was worshiped by both the Maya and Aztec civilizations. +

This organization, CONAIE, fights for Indigenous land rights and political power in Ecuador.

Quetzalcoatl +

Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador

400

This modern movement in Mexico, based in Chiapas, demands Indigenous rights and autonomy.

Zapatistas Movement

500

These massive geoglyphs in the Peruvian desert were created by an ancient pre-Incan civilization.

Nazca Lines

Indigenous Culture 3

100

Known for their complex calendar and writing system, this civilization thrived in present-day Guatemala and southern Mexico.

Maya

200

This South American country’s constitution declares it a “plurinational state” recognizing Indigenous nations.

Bolivia

300

This extensive system of roads was built across the Andes by the Inca for communication and transport.

Inca road network (or Qhapaq Ñan)

400

This education policy in Guatemala allows students to learn in both Spanish and their Indigenous language.

Bilingual intercultural education

500

This colorful, checkered flag represents Andean Indigenous peoples and is used as a symbol of unity and resistance.

Wiphala

Indigenous Culture 4

100

The Aztecs lived mainly in the area of this modern-day country. +

This anniversary in 1992 led many Latin American countries to reframe Columbus Day as a time to honor Indigenous peoples.

Mexico +

Quincentennial (500th anniversary of Columbus's arrival)

200

This Mayan city with pyramids and temples is a well-preserved archaeological site found in Guatemala.

Tikal

300

This Indigenous language, spoken in Paraguay, is one of the country's official languages.

Guaraní

400

This Incan method of record-keeping used knots in strings to convey numerical data.

Quipu

500

Meaning “sweat lodge,” this traditional steam bath is used in Indigenous healing ceremonies in Mesoamerica.

Temazcal

Indigenous Culture 5

100

This was the primary language spoken by the Inca, still used by millions today.

Quecha

200

This ancient city in El Salvador, sometimes called the "Pompeii of the Americas," was preserved by volcanic ash and shows daily life of the Pipil.

Joya de Ceren

300

These brightly painted Mexican folk sculptures of fantastical creatures often reflect Indigenous worldviews.

Alebrijes

400

These floating agricultural plots used by the Aztecs turned lakes into gardens.

Chinampas

500

This holiday blends Catholic and Indigenous Mexican beliefs about the afterlife and honors deceased loved ones.

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)