La indígena con vicuña

I entered this in the "Women make it Happen! End Poverty 2015 Millenium Campaign" photo contest. Not one thing, but the simplicity in her struggle to maintain the culture that means so much to her well-being represents making it happen so much to me.





Entry:
This picture was taken a few miles from the shores of Lake Titicaca in Puno, Peru, where the indigenous customs and languages, mainly Quechua and Aymara, still pertain to a significant part of the population. This particular indígena is the epitome of the phrase "keepin' it real". Despite social and nationalistic oppression from the Hispanic population in South America, her pride and efforts to keep her ancestry alive speaks volumes. She has not chosen to throw away thousands of years of her civilization and will pass these beliefs and customs to her children. The vicuña on her left still remains part of the Inca culture today, an animal that produces extremely precious wool once every 3 years. She is making a difference by not converting, selling out, or sacrificing anything that her people have ever considered letting go of, maintaining her way of life that has continued to be established for centuries. Her chosen life path is well-respected within her own community and should set an example for anyone that faces a life-changing decision: stay true to yourself. If anything, the warm smiles from "La infdígena con vicuña" will surely brighten up your day.


http://www.endpoverty2015.org/en/women-make-it-happen