If you study Spanish in Peru, you will no doubt encounter many indigenous people, including the Quechua.
The Peruvian Quechua, who refer to themselves as “Runa” or “the people” trace their history back to a thousand years before the Incan empire. When the empire rose, these people and their language were absorbed into it. As a result, many conquered indigenous peoples from southern Colombia to northern Argentina adopted the Quechua language (or a version of it). This makes it a bit difficult to categorize the Quechua people, since many speakers may technically belong to a different group.
In Peru, Quechua is considered a co-official language along with Spanish, and about 25 percent of the population speaks Quechua. If you go up into the Andean highlands, this figure increases to about 90 percent, many of whom speak only Quechua and no Spanish.
Unfortunately, there is a history of racism in Peru, and Quechua and other Indians are looked down on as the lowest social class. They may have a poor economic situation now, but their culture has always been rich and vibrant.
For the Quechua, family is very important. They typically stick close to their extended family, with several siblings and their spouses and children all living in the same house or compound. One of their highest values is “ayni” or mutual help. They believe that it is the duty of community members to help one another. If someone helps you, you do something for them in return.
Traditional folk beliefs are very strong among the highlands Quechua. They have many fascinating spiritual beliefs and a strong tradition of herbal medicine. Coca leaf is important in both of these areas–it is used both as a medicine and as a ritual offering for the ancestors. Shamans sometimes also use it to predict the future.
Quechua people are most famous for their textiles. Women weave beautiful, brightly colored shawls and blankets from alpaca and llama wool. Most Quechua are subsistence farmers, and textiles provide an important source of income to many families. They are also known for their quirky bowler hats, the origins of which remain somewhat of a mystery.