Indigenous Bolivian People
The ethnic composition of bolivia includes a great diversity of cultures.
Indigenous bolivian people. Indigenous peoples bolivia. While indigenous peoples now comprise only a fraction of the total population in most of the region bolivia has long been notable for its indigenous majority with 62 per cent of bolivians aged 15 years or over self identifying as indigenous in the country s 2001 census. They constitute approximately 20 of bolivia s population of 11 306 341 and belong to 36 recognized ethnic groups. Bolivia president s initial indigenous free cabinet heightens polarization.
Bolivia written on 11 may 2020 posted in bolivia. In fact the country has the largest population of indigenous peoples in south america with most sociologists and anthropologists saying that over 60 of the population is of indigenous descent. Today for the natives in potosà lithium is the new silver. According to the 2012 national census 41 of bolivians over the age of 15 are of indigenous origin although the 2017 projections from the national statistics institute ine indicate that this may now have increased to 48.
The indigenous have always been treated as savages as non men as people without history and without collective memory according to bolivian sociologist pablo mamani. Bolivia s indigenous people commonly face prejudice due to their social status tied to poverty and ethnicity. In this op ed a harvard medical school student and indigenous activist writes about his deep concern about the violence towards indigenous peoples in bolivia after president evo morales fled the. Authorities from chayanta norte potosà say bolivia s lithium is being ransacked from the indigenous people the caption read.
1 of the 36 peoples recognised in the country most quechua 49 5 and aymara 40 6 speakers. The colonization of the americas was an erasure of indigenous historical narratives and worldviews a silencing of indigenous voices a forced amnesia. Most of the indigenous peoples have assimilated a mestizo culture diversifying and expanding their indigenous heritage. The ethnic distribution of bolivia is estimated to be 30 quechua speaking and 25 aymara.
The geography of bolivia includes the andes the gran chaco and the amazon rainforest. Bolivia is a multiethnic society with a remarkable diversity of linguistic cultural and artistic traditions. Sixty percent of bolivians identify as quechua or aymara ethnicities native to the.