The Resilient Chipaya: Living in Harmony with a Hostile Environment

🏡The Chipaya people have adapted to their hostile environment through unique architecture, building cone-shaped houses to withstand strong winds.

💧The Chipaya practice the technique of lame, diverting and harnessing water to clean and desalinate the soil and fertilize it with silt.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Living in a communal way, the Chipaya share the work and resources, emphasizing cooperation and collective responsibility.

🌾The Chipaya's agriculture is based on quinoa, which they sow after diverting water during the rainy season.

🏔️The Chipaya are descendants of the Uru ethnic group, and their identity and culture are deeply connected to their territory.

How do the Chipaya protect their houses from strong winds?

—The Chipaya build cone-shaped houses called putus, which allow the wind to blow through them without causing damage.

What is the technique of lame?

—Lame is a method unique to the Chipaya people, in which they divert and harness water to clean and desalinate the soil and fertilize it with silt.

How do the Chipaya practice agriculture in their harsh environment?

—The Chipaya sow quinoa during the rainy season after diverting water with the technique of lame. They have adapted their agriculture to the limited resources of their territory.

What is the significance of the communal way of living among the Chipaya?

—Living communally allows the Chipaya to share the work and resources, emphasizing cooperation and collective responsibility. It strengthens their sense of community and helps them overcome the challenges of their hostile environment.

What is the connection between the Chipaya and the Uru ethnic group?

—The Chipaya are descendants of the Uru ethnic group. Their identity, culture, and attachment to their territory are deeply rooted in their Urus heritage.

00:00The Chipaya people live in the Bolivian altiplano, adapting to their harsh environment.

01:46They have developed a remarkable water management system and unique architecture.

03:44The Chipaya build cone-shaped houses called putus to withstand strong winds.

10:13The technique of lame is used to divert and harness water for agriculture.

15:15The Chipaya practice agriculture and sow quinoa during the rainy season.

18:00Their communal way of living strengthens their sense of community and allows them to overcome the challenges of their environment.

18:45The Chipaya's attachment to their territory is deeply rooted in their Urus heritage.