Otavalo, Ecuador Video Blog

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28 rural Indigenous communities gather each year to celebrate the Summer Solstice. San Juan or Inti Raymi has been celebrated for millennium by the Andean people. This is a video archive made in 2007 and more archives will follow.

This is a new sound byte of musica nacional. No respectable fiesta begins without an inauguration by a banda. The Banda of San Rocé initiated the festivals of Inti Raymi this weekend. It is the most important festival of the year for the rural Indigenous people.

Quinoa is one of the most fortified grains in existence and was a staple of the Andean diet. At the "house of their grandparents" Tio Mario Tontaquimba and his wife demonstrate the process of preparation of quinoa for lunch. Spanish Quechua

At one time, 90% of the indigenous families of Peguche were involved in the weaving process, even before tourism. Tio Mario Tontaquimba and his wife offer demonstrations at their workshop, "La Casa de Mis Abuelos" . Spanish Quechua

In this final segment, Tio Mario Tontaquimba Diaz collects several effective medicinal herbs used by the corinderos of the Andean Indigenous community for centuries. Tio Mario is well known for his ability to treat many illnesses, including cancer.

Today I visited the Paradero Inca Tambo in Peguche to visit with Tio Mario Tontaquimba Diaz and his wife who welcome guests to visit their workshops and to obtain insight into the Indigenous Andean culture of the Otavalo rural area. Spanish Quechua

The ancients depended on Maize as their principal food. Tio Mario Tontaquimba and his wife offer travelers the opportunity to observe the preparation of a typical meal at the "house of their grandparents", the Paradero Inca Tambo. Spanish Quechua

Christmas for the rural Indigenous children of the Andes is a time to receive candy and animal crackers. I have finally found time to edit a video taken a few months ago when our foundation distributed navidades to over 200 children from the community of Yambiro.

Everybody, rich or poor, eats Papas. There are several varieties available in the Otavalo food market. My papa casera explains what types of potatoes are for sale, how they are prepared and how much a basket or a one hundred pound sack might cost.

Like many Ecuadorians with family in the US, this hard working vendor worries that they may meet the same fate as Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero. She asked me if she could send a message to my viewers and here it is……...

The Indigenous communities struggled to receive water rights a generation ago. The Government plan to privatize water has brought thousands of protesters out to the Pan American highway to shut down the country until there is a solution.

The Government plan to privatize water has brought thousands of protesters out to the Pan American highway to shut down the country until there is a solution. We listen to some "transportistas" who have been waiting for the roads to open.

Segundo Lomas has labored in his workshop on the corner of Calle Roca and Calle Gonzalo Suarez as a tailor for 50 years and survives as an artisan despite many changes in Otavalo. We chatted briefly the other day while he worked.

We visit the restoration project of tio Marcelo Farinango once again to view progress. This is a slideshow of a few shots I took yesterday while I spoke with tio Marcelo about the plan after over a year of construction and the date of inauguration.

Samy is one of Otavalo's most beloved folklore music groups. This is an hour long Television special produced by UTV in Quito, Ecuador. The Pineda brothers have been playing music all of their lives and they hope you enjoy the show!

Two professors and five students from St. John's College in Minnesota spent three weeks working with the children and adults in the community of Yambiro. Sports, art, health and community pride were emphasized. Everyone had a good time!

The children of Yambiro spent a day of their vacation painting several buildings of the village school. Painting materials were provided by the Ali Shungu Foundation and ice cream for all was provided by St. John's college of Minnesota.