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The
International day of Indigenous Woman
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The
indigenous women took part en masse both in the fights for
their land and in the defense of their ethnic group.
5 September is the International day of the indigenous women,
in which the cruel death of Bartolina Sissa is commemorated
in La Paz, Bolivia. Cacicas, mother t'allas, comandantas,
amazons, combat jacket, virreinas... are the names that received
these indigenous heroines, warriors in the liberation of their
people in the Spanish conquest, and from the foreign dominion.
Some of the most known women are: Anacaona, Gregoria Apaza,
Bartolina Sisa, Kurusa Key, Micaela Bastidas, Huillac Ñusca,
Angata, Janequeo Guacolda, Fresia, Tegualda, Lorenza Abimañay,
Señapanta Rose, Ochoa Daisy, Baltazara Chiza, Pantoja
Daisy, Gaitana, Ague, Ayunga and many other women who do not
appear in books nor in chronicles. All of them fought to recover
the ancestral rights of the indigenous people.
The
beginning
Anacaona, Cacique de Jaragua (Chief of Jaragua) would be one
of the first in the Latin-American continent. After a reconciliation
period that avoided a massacre of her people, Anacaona rebelled
and was captured in a cell and hanged by the Spaniards in
La Española island.
In Colombia, the cacicas Gaitana, Ague and Ayunga were front
line in the resistance to the Spaniards. However, there were
some women that collaborated with the conquerors such as the
Malinche of Hernán Cortés.
Mapuche
women: XVIth
Janequeo was a Lonko woman of Mapuche-Pewenche origin. She
was Lonko Hueputan´s wife. She won the military strategist's
support of our nation because of her military preparation
and qualities of leader. With the support of her lof (community)
and her brother Guechuntureo, she was nominated in charge
of the regional troops. In a difficult period during the war,
she attack the Puchunqui fortress. In 1587, after several
battles she defeated the invading troops with the participation
of Mapuche-Puelche groups (Argentinean side). In La Araucana
(the first great epic poem about America), Ercilla mentioned
the existence of brave Mapuche women such as: Guacolda and
Fresia. According the author, in middle of the XVIth century,
Fresia dashed their baby to the ground in shame when her husband
(Caupolicán) was captured by the Spaniards.
La
Tirana: a Kolla princess
Huillac Ñusca, was a Kolla princess that fought to
the Spaniards. She had the name "La Tirana" because
of her mistreatments to prisoners. She rebelled against the
Spaniards, but felt in love with Vasco de Almeida (her prisoner)
and plead with her people for him. After her father´s
death, La Tirana would become leader of a groups of Incas
that would be brought to Chile for working in the silver Mines
at Huantajaya.
Amarista
and Katarista Rebellion: 1780
In 1780, the Aymara and Quechua women had a main role in the
rebellion of the Inca Tupac Amaru andy Tupac Katari. In Perú
and Bolivia, the Andean women fought to rebuild the Quechua-Aymara
nation and recover their ancestral rights that were wrenched
by the conquerors. Gregoria Apaza, younger brother of Tupak
katari, Bartolina Sisa, Kurusa Llave, Tomás Katari´s
widow, Micaela Bastidas, partner of Tupac Amaru, are the Andean
heroines.
Dressed like a man, Gregoria Apaza leaded the female troops
in several battles to support the Amaru´s army. She
was partner of Andres Tupak Amaru, who was son of the Inca
Tupak Amaru.
Kurusa Llave leaded the Quiswas´s army of Chayanta and
was defeated by the troops leaded by Ignacio Flores that came
to Spanish's aid.
Bartolina Sisa, called Virreina, fought with Tupac Katari
in the historical siege of Chuquiago (La Paz), where the indigenous
made a "human wall". (see "The life of Bartolina
Sisa)
Micaela Bastidas that had Quechua and African origin, fought
in the amarista and katarista rebellion. After the victory
of Sangarará, when Tupac Amaru hesitated to advance
over Cuzco, Micaela incited him to march quickly over the
ancient capital of the Inca people.
Recover
the dignity: 1803, Ecuador
Lorenza Abimañay, was born in a indigenous home in
the Chimborazo zone, in Ecuador. She followed the warriors
of her people such as Rosa Señapanta, Margarita Ochoa,
Baltazara Chuiza and Margarita Pantoja.
In 1803 Abimañay with Jacinta Juárez and Lorenza
Peña, leaded a indigenous rebellion of 10.000 indigenous
(in Guamote and Columbe, in Ecuador) against pay of taxes.
The rebellion was suppressed and Lorenza Abimañay was
murder with other indigenous leaders.
Good dream with the freedom of Rapa Nui: 1914
In 1914, the revolt on Rapa Nui against the Williamson Balfour
Company, was leaded by Angata, successor of Simeón
Riroroko, the King of Rapa Nui. Angata is known like a Rapa
Nui priestess, who demanded respect to her people from a dream.
The
Afrodescendent people
The black women took part in several forms of resistance such
as magic practice, Afro music and innumerable rebellions.
In the first slave rebellion in Venezuela (1552) Guiomar fought
with Miguel and according to African custom was proclaimed
Queen of Cumbe. Juana Francisca, María Valentina and
Juana Llanos were the main figures of the rebellion leaded
by Guillermo in 1771-74 in the Tuy Barlovento zone, near Caracas.
Trinidad, Polonia and Juana Antonia took part in the insurrection
of José Chirino (1796). One of the biggest rebellions
in which was combined slaver liberation with fight for independence.
Filippa Aranha, black slave from Brasil, rebelled and went
to Amazonia where would be Cacique of the Malalí Indigenous
people.
The
Latin American Indigenous history is full of women that turn
into myths and examples of fight and decision to recover the
ancestral rights of the indigenous peoples
Source:
The women's condition in the colony and patriarchy's consolidation.
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