Kylie+-+CD+-+SP13

__**Name**__
Chaska

__**Culture**__
Quechua

__**Cultural Aspects**__
//Language:// The Quechua peolpe speak Quechua, which used to be the language of the Inca empire before it was destroyed in the 16th century. Today, the people live in Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, and a small part of Argentina, so the language is continually spoken there. However, there are many differences between the way the Quechua peolpe speak the language in different regions.

//Beliefs//: The beliefs of the Quechua people combine two different religious systems: Catholicism and the traditional Andean religion, which is what most of the people in the Andes believe. Because of the influence of Christianity, they believe in one God, as well as heaven, which they call hanan pacha, and hell, which they call ukhu pach. In their religion, God created three eras. The first was when he created Earth and the men that inhabited it. When God was unhappy with them, he created a second, which started with the Inca Empire and spans until present day. The third era will come in the future. Contrary to their belief in God, the Quechua also praise saints called apus and wamanis, who are found in the Andean religion. They inherited their moral system from the traditional Andean religion. They highly value the principle of reciprocity, which is doin unto others what you would want done to you. Because of Chrisitanity, they believe in the body and spirit. There are two parts to the spirit, the anima (breath), which is related to the health of a person while they are alive, and the soul, which separates from the body after death.

//Values:// They inherited their moral system from the tradition Andean religion. They highly value the principle of reciprocity, which is doing unto others what you would want done to you. There are four basic sins that they believe go against this: theft, deceit, laziness, and incest. Ultimately, their goal is to be united with God, and this happens after death, as long as they have lived good lives. They also value family, and most of their lives are commited to serving theirs.

//Behaviors:// In the Quechua culture, people are centered around their main family. However, their extended family is very important too, because they share the same farm land. People are only allowed to get married with the consent of the family, and they are only considered adults when they are married. Wedded couples usually live with the husband's parents, unless the women's family needs more workers. Another tradition that the Quechua carry is feasts for their various saints, including the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, and various others that are derived from Andean religion. There is also the Pago a la Pachamama, which is a payment to the Pachamama (whom they believe is the "nurterer of the Earth") that occurs at the begining of each season of agriculture.

**__ Helpfulness of Culture to //UNESCO// __**
The Quechua people lived through the oppression brought by the Spaniards when they took down the Inca Empire. This shows their strength and determination, which is needed in a Goodwill Ambassador because it is a commonly characteristic that can be valued from any culture. The Quechua people also blended together their own Andean religion with Christianity/ Catholicism. This shows their acceptance and tolerance of other cultures, which is needed to keep peace among all different people.

**__ Undesirable Traits for //UNESCO// __**
Sin ce the Quechua language has come to vary in some regions, some could say that the Quechua people are not united as a whole.

**__ Cultural Change __**
//Travel:// Although the Quechua peolpe haven't traveled anywhere, they were suppressed by the Spaniards after they took over the Inca Empire. The Spanish inflenced the Quechuas through their the language aspect of their cultural. The Quechua people have blended Spanish slightly with their language.

__** Citations **__
"Quechua Language and Linguistics." //Quechua Language and Linguistics//. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. "The Religion of the Quechua." //The Religion of the Quechua//. University of Cumbria, n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. SIM. "Related." //Quechua//. SIM (Soudan Interior Mission), n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2013.