Cañari

The Cañari (in Kichwa: Kañari) are an indigenous ethnic group traditionally inhabiting the territory of the modern provinces of Azuay and Cañar in Ecuador. They are descended from the independent pre-Columbian tribal confederation of the same name. The historic people are particularly noted for their resistance against the Inca Empire. Eventually conquered by the Inca in the early 16th century shortly before the arrival of the Spanish, the Cañari later allied with the Spanish against the Inca. Today, the population of the Cañari, who include many mestizos, numbers in the thousands.

The earlier people defended their territory for many years against numerous Incan armies. Túpac Yupanqui conquered the Huancabambas, the most southern of the Cañari allies. Through wars and marriages, the Inca Empire under the lead of Huayna Capac to the north finally conquered their territory. The Cañari were loosely assimilated into the vast empire, allowed to manage their own affairs but adopting a new language for communicating with the Inca.

The tribe primarily occupied the Tumebamba area (present day Cuenca). Due in part to Incan influence and mandate, Cañari construction reportedly rivaled that of the Incan capital, Cuzco. Of particular repute was the impressive architecture of Tumebamba, which has often been referred to as the "second Cuzco."

During the Inca Civil War between the sons of Huayna Capac, the Cañari chose to support Huáscar, despite being positioned in the northern area inherited by the son and heir Atahualpa. Initially, Huáscar's generals Atoc and Hango were successful, defeating Atahualpa's army, capturing many of his soldiers, and seizing the large cities Cajamarca and Tumebamba.

Origins

The word Cañari comes from "kan" meaning "snake" and "ara" meaning "macaw". Some believe it means the Cañari thought their ancestors were the snake and the macaw. Others think they saw these animals as sacred, shown in their stories and designs. The Cañari included many groups with their own cultures, such as the Peleusis, who lived near the modern city of Azogues and led nearby tribes.

According to their stories, the Cañari told of a big flood that washed over the land. Only two brothers survived by climbing a high mountain. When they returned to their home, they found it fixed up and filled with food. Each day, the food was already prepared when they came back. They later learned that two beings with a macaws face had been leaving the food. One brother married the younger being, and their children helped fill the world again.

History

Inca Conquest

The Inca leader Túpac Yupanqui fought to take control of the Cañari people. The Cañari were ready to defend their land and had chosen a leader named Dumma. When Túpac Yupanqui attacked, the Cañari were prepared and stopped the Inca army. Later, the Cañari tried to work with another group, the Paltas, to fight back against the Inca, but the Paltas told Túpac Yupanqui about their plans.

Túpac Yupanqui did not trust the Cañari easily. He asked their leaders to send their children as a sign of peace. After this, the Cañari agreed to join the Inca empire. They kept some of their own ways but also followed Inca rules. Túpac Yupanqui stayed in their land, building bridges and buildings, and moved some Cañari people to live in Cuzco.

Inca Civil War

When a civil war broke out between the sons of Huayna Capac, Huáscar and Atahuallpa, the Cañari chose to support Huáscar. At first, they were successful, but Atahuallpa's forces fought back and defeated them. Many Cañari people were punished for their support of Huáscar.

Spanish conquest

When the Spanish arrived, the Cañari hoped they would help free them from Inca rule. They joined forces with the Spanish, led by Francisco Pizarro, to fight against the Inca. In 1536, together they won a battle at Sacsayhuamán. Later, a Cañari leader named Francisco Chilche helped protect land for his people and even led soldiers for the Spanish against the last Inca leader, Tupac Amaru.

Territory

The Cañari were a group of tribes who lived in a large area from the limits of Azuay to Saraguro, stretching from the Gualaquiza mountains to the Narajal beaches and the coasts of the Jambelí canal. Important places in their territory included Cañaribamba, Cojitambo, Chobshi, Shabalula, Molleturo, Coyoctor, Culebrillas, Yacubiñay, Guapondelig, and Hatun Cañar. After the Inca took over, they renamed the last two places Tumebamba and Ingapirca.

Today, their lands are in the provinces of Azuay, Cañar, and El Oro in Ecuador. Many ruins and archaeological sites from both the Cañari and Inca cultures can still be found there. The largest known ruins of the Cañari-Inca confederation are Ingapirca in Cañar Province, Pumapungo in Azuay Province, Chobshi in Azuay Province, and Yacubiñay in El Oro Province. Of these, Ingapirca is the most famous. Pumapungo is located in the center of the city of Cuenca, behind the Pumapungo Museum. Chobshi and Yacubiñay have not been studied much by professional archaeologists.

Culture

The Cañari people had a system where each leader ruled their own tribe. But during tough times like wars or natural disasters, all the tribes would join together and pick one leader for everyone.

Some Cañari tribes had systems where women had important roles in their families and communities. When the Inca leaders married into these families, they used these marriages to gain more power over some Cañari groups.

The Cañari used a calendar based on the moon and built temples shaped like circles to match the moon. You can still see examples of these round buildings at Ingapirca, where they stand next to the square buildings the Inca built. The site also has special stones with holes that were used to track the movement of the sun and moon.

Many Cañari dialects might still exist today, but there are very few people who can speak them now. Most indigenous people in Ecuador speak Kichwa or Spanish.

Language

The original Cañari language is believed to no longer be spoken by many people.

During the time when the Inca conquered the Cañari, the Cañari people learned Quechua, also known as Kichwa. The Inca language gained many new words from the Cañari people, especially names for places and objects that didn’t have words in Quechua.

During Spanish rule, missionaries tried to translate religious teachings into the Cañari language, but no copies of these translations remain. Over time, Spanish leaders made the Cañari people learn Kichwa, which led to the Cañari language being used less and less. Because so little was written down, knowledge of the Cañari language has been lost.

Accent

The accent used in the city of Cuenca is thought to be a reminder of the original Cañari language. This accent is most common in rural areas of the Cañar and Azuay provinces. Some believe it might also be found in parts of northwestern Argentina, possibly because of people moved there by the Inca during their wars. The special “cantadito” accent can also be heard in some places in Bolivia.

Notable people

One well-known person from the Cañari group is Yaku Pérez Guartambel. He is an activist who works to protect the rights of indigenous people and ran to be president of Ecuador in the 2021 election.