The Spirit of Regeneration
Growing up in a Culture of Respect: child rearing in highland Peru
"This is a wonderful book, a brilliant book, one that explains Andean culture in a totally unique and fascinating way.... Professor Bolin's truly wonderful powers of observation and her sensitivity and receptiveness to Chillihuani culture combine to provide us with a rare opportunity to see and begin to understand a beautiful people whose culture could not be more different from that of the so-called western world." -- Thomas M. Davies, Jr., Professor Emeritus of Latin American History, San Diego State University "Societal changes have consequences, and how a people choose to raise their children reveals much about their values and spirit of place. Andean children, (though living with material scarcity), are fully entwined in a network of reciprocal obligations, thereby discovering the meaning of being human. It is this culture of respect that Inge Bolin reveals in this splendid and original book." -- Wade Davis, Explorer-in-Residence, National Geographic Society, author of One River and The Serpent and the Rainbow Far from the mainstream of society, the pastoral community of Chillihuani in the high Peruvian Andes rears children who are well-adjusted, creative, and curious. They exhibit superior social and cognitive skills and maintain an attitude of respect for all life as they progress smoothly from childhood to adulthood without a troubled adolescence. What makes such child-rearing success even more remarkable is that "childhood" is not recognized as a distinct phase of life. Instead, children assume adult rights and responsibilities at an early age in order to help the community survive in a rugged natural environment and utter material poverty. This beautifullywritten ethnography provides the first full account of child-rearing practices in the high Peruvian Andes. Inge Bolin traces children's lives from birth to adulthood and finds truly amazing strategies of child rearing, as well as impressive ways of living that allow teenagers to enjoy the adolescent stage of their lives while contributing significantly to the welfare of their families and the community. Throughout her discussion, Bolin demonstrates that traditional practices of respect, whose roots reach back to pre-Columbian times, are what enable the children of the high Andes to mature into dignified, resilient, and caring adults.
Rituals of Respect: the secret of survival in the high Peruvian Andes
"In the remoteness of their mountain retreat, the herders of Chillihuani, Peru, recognize that respect for others is the central and most significant element of all thought and action," observes Inge Bolin. "Without respect, no society, no civilization, can flourish for long. Without respect, humanity is doomed and so is the earth, sustainer of all life." In this beautifully written ethnography, Bolin describes the rituals of respect that maintain harmonious relations among people, the natural world, and the realm of the gods in an isolated Andean community of llama and alpaca herders that reaches up to 16,500 feet. Bolin was the first foreigner to visit Chillihuani, and she was permitted to participate in private family rituals, as well as public ceremonies. In turn, she allows the villagers to explain the meaning of their rituals in their own words. From these first-hand experiences, Bolin offers an intimate portrait of an annual ritual cycle that dates back to Inca and pre-Inca times, including the ancient Pukllay; weddings; the Fiesta de Santiago, with its horse races on the top of the world; and Peru's Independence Day, when the Rituals of Respect for elders and young people alike are carried out within male and female hierarchies reminiscent of Inca times.
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Latin America
A hymn to beauty, Latin America celebrates the profound and incredibly diverse continent in all its colour and gaiety. The third of seven volumes, this title incorporates the most beautiful photographs from Revelations: 365 Thoughts from Latin America, here presented in large format. As with other volumes, the book begins with a reference text and ends with a more intimate text by the photographer, Olivier Follmi. Virginie de Borchgrave, a specialist in Latin American culture, has written the extremely details captions that help illuminate each photograph. The first book to exhibit Latin American culture in all its glory, Latin America is a living fresco, a tribute to a continent that has inspired true imagination for generations.
The everyday life of the ancient Incas : art, architecture, religion, everyday life, cultureVanishing AmazonFestival Resources
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Ecuador
This beautifully-illustrated book features some of the most magnificent works of art produced by the
Peru
Richly illustrated, this book describes the grandeur and richness of the numerous civilizations predating the Incas, including the Paracas, Nazca, Recuay, Sic#65533;n-Lambayeque, Moche-Sip#65533;n, and Chim#65533; cultures, as well as the great Inca civilization. Included in the book are the important sites and landscapes representative of the three major ecological levels of Peru, as well as a general view and a historical perspective of the pre-Columbian cultures of Peru. Luis Guillermo Lumbreras examines the historical and archaeological context while Fernando de Szyslo presents the viewpoint of a contemporary Peruvian artist. Informative text written by Peruvian specialists in the field introduce each chapter dedicated to each of the pre-Columbian cultures. Two hundred stunning objects--pottery, textiles, and jewelry--illustrate the varied artistic achievements of each ancient culture.
The Peruvian Four-Selvaged Cloth
In this beautifully illustrated book, textile expert Elena Phipps examines the ancient Peruvian process of weaving textiles with four finished selvages, or edges. Without cutting a thread, master Peruvian weavers wove each textile to the specifications of its intended use, whether a child's garment, royal mantle, or ritual cloth. This weaving technique required the highest level of skill and forethought and reflects a high cultural value placed on maintaining the integrity of cloth--not only its design and function but also the very way in which it was constructed. The resultant textiles have long been admired for their mastery of color, technique, and design. While exploring the origins and development of this approach to weaving, Phipps also examines its influence on three contemporary artists--Sheila Hicks, James Bassler, and John Cohen--all of whom have considered ancient Peruvian weaving processes in their own work.
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Children's Literature
Children and youth literature written in English about the Andes is limited. More books and authors are needed in this area. Below is a list of a few titles that explore indigenous cultures, migration, and Latino identity in the Americas.
Rainbow Weaver/Tejedora del Arcoíris
Bilingual English/Spanish. A young Mayan girl isn't allowed to use her mother's thread to weave, so with a little ingenuity she discovers how to repurpose plastic bags to create colorful weavings. Based on an actual recycling movement in Guatemala.
Mamá the Alien
Bilingual English/Spanish. In this lighthearted bilingual immigration story, a young girl sees the word alien on her mother's Resident Alien card and concludes that her mother is from another planet until the girl finds out that the word has more than one meaning.
Somos Como las Nubes / We Are Like the Clouds
Why are young people leaving their country to walk to the United States to seek a new, safe home? Over 100,000 such children have left Central America. This book of poetry helps us to understand why and what it is like to be them. This powerful book by award-winning Salvadoran poet Jorge Argueta describes the terrible process that leads young people to undertake the extreme hardships and risks involved in the journey to what they hope will be a new life of safety and opportunity. A refugee from El Salvador's war in the eighties, Argueta was born to explain the tragic choice confronting young Central Americans today who are saying goodbye to everything they know because they fear for their lives. This book brings home their situation and will help young people who are living in safety to understand those who are not. Compelling, timely and eloquent, this book is beautifully illustrated by master artist Alfonso Ruano who also illustrated The Composition, considered one of the 100 Greatest Books for Kids by Scholastic's Parent and Child Magazine.
The Princess and the Warrior
Award-winning author Duncan Tonatiuh reimagines one of Mexico's cherished legends. Princess Izta had many wealthy suitors but dismissed them all. When a mere warrior, Popoca, promised to be true to her and stay always by her side, Izta fell in love. The emperor promised Popoca if he could defeat their enemy Jaguar Claw, then Popoca and Izta could wed. When Popoca was near to defeating Jaguar Claw, his opponent sent a messenger to Izta saying Popoca was dead. Izta fell into a deep sleep and, upon his return, even Popoca could not wake her. As promised Popoca stayed by her side. So two volcanoes were formed: Iztacc#65533;huatl, who continues to sleep, and Popocat#65533;petl, who spews ash and smoke, trying to wake his love.
A coloring album of ancient Mexico and PeruCurriculum Sources
The Columbus Metropolitan Library offers many research tools for free with a public library card.
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The following sources are recommended:
Biography in Context: Biographical profiles are available on El Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, Manco Capac , Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, Manco Inca Yupanqui, Túpac Amarú, andTopa Inca Yupanqui, among other important Andean and South American individuals.
CultureGrams: Cultural reference database includes a comprehensive country profile, maps, recipes, information about famous people, interviews, demographic and cultural custom information. Search for "Ecuador" and "Peru"
Explora: Find news, academic journals, biographies, videos, reports, and encyclopedic entries. *Also select the "for educators" tab to find lesson plans on the Andes by typing keywords "
Science Online: Explore the geographic and geological elements of the Andes including Andes Mountains, South American geology, highland climate, chinchilla, etc. To find all available sources search "Andes."
World Book Kids' Encyclopedia: Find information on the Andes including the Inca, Animals from South America (see "World of Animals"). World Book is also available in Spanish.
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