Cañari

The Cañari (in Kichwa: Kañari) are an indigenous ethnic group who live in the areas of Azuay and Cañar in Ecuador. They come from a group that was independent before the time of the Inca Empire.

The Cañari people fought hard to protect their land from the Inca armies. Later, they were conquered by the Inca but kept some of their own ways. They spoke a new language when talking to the Inca.

The Cañari lived mainly in the Tumebamba area, now called Cuenca. Their buildings were very impressive and were sometimes compared to those of the Inca capital, Cuzco.

During a time of trouble in the Inca family, the Cañari supported Huáscar. His leaders won some battles and took control of cities like Cajamarca and Tumebamba.

Origins

The word Cañari comes from "kan" meaning "snake" and "ara" meaning "macaw". Some believe it means the Cañari thought their ancestors were the snake and the macaw. Others think they saw these animals as sacred, shown in their stories and designs. The Cañari included many groups with their own cultures, such as the Peleusis, who lived near the modern city of Azogues.

According to their stories, the Cañari told of a big flood that washed over the land. Only two brothers survived by climbing a high mountain. When they returned to their home, they found it fixed up and filled with food. Each day, the food was already prepared when they came back. They later learned that two beings with a macaws face had been leaving the food. One brother married the younger being, and their children helped fill the world again.

History

Inca Conquest

The Inca leader Túpac Yupanqui fought to take control of the Cañari people. The Cañari were ready to defend their land and had chosen a leader named Dumma. When Túpac Yupanqui attacked, the Cañari stopped the Inca army. Later, the Cañari tried to work with another group, the Paltas, to fight back, but the Paltas told Túpac Yupanqui about their plans.

Túpac Yupanqui did not trust the Cañari easily. He asked their leaders to send their children as a sign of peace. After this, the Cañari agreed to join the Inca empire. They kept some of their own ways but also followed Inca rules. Túpac Yupanqui stayed in their land, building bridges and buildings, and moved some Cañari people to live in Cuzco.

Inca Civil War

When a civil war broke out between the sons of Huayna Capac, Huáscar and Atahuallpa, the Cañari chose to support Huáscar. At first, they were successful, but Atahuallpa's forces fought back and defeated them. Many Cañari people were punished for their support of Huáscar.

Spanish conquest

When the Spanish arrived, the Cañari hoped they would help free them from Inca rule. They joined forces with the Spanish, led by Francisco Pizarro, to fight against the Inca. In 1536, together they won a battle at Sacsayhuamán. Later, a Cañari leader named Francisco Chilche helped protect land for his people and even led soldiers for the Spanish against the last Inca leader, Tupac Amaru.

Territory

The Cañari were a group of tribes who lived in a large area from the limits of Azuay to Saraguro. Their land stretched from the Gualaquiza mountains to the Narajal beaches and the coasts of the Jambelí canal. Important places in their territory included Cañaribamba, Cojitambo, Chobshi, Shabalula, Molleturo, Coyoctor, Culebrillas, Yacubiñay, Guapondelig, and Hatun Cañar. After the Inca took over, they renamed the last two places Tumebamba and Ingapirca.

Today, their lands are in the provinces of Azuay, Cañar, and El Oro in Ecuador. Many ruins and archaeological sites from both the Cañari and Inca cultures can still be found there. The largest known ruins of the Cañari-Inca confederation are Ingapirca in Cañar Province, Pumapungo in Azuay Province, Chobshi in Azuay Province, and Yacubiñay in El Oro Province. Of these, Ingapirca is the most famous. Pumapungo is located in the center of the city of Cuenca, behind the Pumapungo Museum. Chobshi and Yacubiñay have not been studied much by professional archaeologists.

Culture

The Cañari people had leaders who ruled their own tribes. During hard times, like wars or natural disasters, all the tribes would join together and choose one leader for everyone.

Some Cañari tribes let women have important roles in their families and communities. When Inca leaders married into these families, they used these marriages to gain more power.

The Cañari used a calendar based on the moon and built round temples to match the moon. You can still see these round buildings at Ingapirca, where they stand next to square buildings the Inca built. The site also has special stones with holes used to track the sun and moon.

Many Cañari dialects might still exist today, but very few people can speak them now. Most indigenous people in Ecuador speak Kichwa or Spanish.

Language

The original Cañari language is believed to no longer be spoken by many people.

When the Inca conquered the Cañari, the Cañari people learned Quechua, also known as Kichwa. The Inca language gained new words from the Cañari people, especially for places and objects that didn’t have words in Quechua.

During Spanish rule, missionaries tried to translate religious teachings into the Cañari language, but no copies of these translations remain. Over time, Spanish leaders made the Cañari people learn Kichwa, which led to the Cañari language being used less. Because so little was written down, knowledge of the Cañari language has been lost.

Accent

The accent used in the city of Cuenca is thought to remind us of the original Cañari language. This accent is most common in rural areas of the Cañar and Azuay provinces. Some believe it might also be found in parts of northwestern Argentina, possibly because of people moved there by the Inca during their wars. The special “cantadito” accent can also be heard in some places in Bolivia.

Notable people

One famous person from the Cañari group is Yaku Pérez Guartambel. He is an activist who helps protect the rights of indigenous people. He also ran to be president of Ecuador in 2021.