A Portait of an OtavaleñaThe Runa, who are commonly known as Otavaleños in Spanish, ar
A Portait of an OtavaleñaThe Runa, who are commonly known as Otavaleños in Spanish, are an Indigenous Kichwa speaking people from the city of Otavalo, in the northern Ecuadorian province of Imbabura. They are considered to be one of the most wealthiest Indigenous groups in all of Latin America, and up to two-thirds of them are middle class by Ecuadorian standards, exceeding many whites and mestizos. Many Otavaleños attend university graduating with medical, sociological, and film degrees; something uncommon among other Indigenous groups in the country who have a high drop-out rate, a factor that’s heavily linked to racism and discrimination. The Otavaleños are most renowned for weaving textiles out of wool, and had been using the back strap loom for centuries before they were conquered by the Incas; who collected their fabrics as tribute. After the Spanish conquest of Otavalo, many Otavaleños were forced into sweatshops known as obrajes. In these sweatshops they mastered new techniques, allowing them to produce textiles in mass quantities, and creating a trade that operates freely these days. More than 80% of the textile businesses in Otavalo are family owned, and their fabrics are sold worldwide. They are also famous for their markets, which are most active on Saturday’s, and are one of Ecuador’s most popular tourist destinations. -- source link
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