14 Questions
In what year was María Dolores Cacuango Quilo born?
1881
What was the main focus of Dolores' activism?
defense of lands, ending of slavery and promoting the Quechua language
How were the Kichwa people treated by landowners during Dolores' time?
They were denied pay, kept in debt, and violently punished or humiliated.
What was the name of the country's first Indigenous organization founded by Dolores?
Indigenous Federation of Ecuador (FEI)
Why were women often forced to work in the homes for free?
They were forced by hacienda owners.
Which parties did Dolores work with to help the Indigenous people organize unions?
Socialist party and communist party
Why are Indigenous movements in Ecuador, particularly its women leaders, often left out of history classes?
Because the country's schools focus more on the country's colonizers and nation making than the acts of resistance against it.
What nickname was Dolores also known as?
Mama Dolores or Mama Warrior
When was the curriculum last updated in which Dolores Cacuango's photo and a small quote about her life were included in some history and social science textbooks?
2016
What aspect of Dolores Cacuango's life is not adequately represented in the national school textbooks?
Her role as an important political activist who fought against a violent hacienda system, advanced Indigenous rights, and inspired years of organized resistance by later Indigenous movements.
What are some of the biggest struggles faced by the Indigenous community, according to Chuma, an indigenous activist?
Poverty and lack of access to university education, healthcare, and jobs.
What is the significance of chanting Dolores Cacuango's name in marches today?
To enliven and encourage people to continue fighting for their rights.
What does the phrase 'Mamá Guerrera' mean in English?
Mama Warrior
How many years have passed since Dolores Cacuango's death?
More than 50 years
Study Notes
María Dolores Cacuango Quilo
- Born on October 26, 1881, and died on April 23, 1971
- Indigenous activist and leader who promoted the rights of Quechua and Indigenous farmers in Ecuador
- Considered an important figure in 20th-century feminism
- Fought for the defense of lands, ending of slavery, and the Quechua language
The Hacienda System
- Kichwa communities in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador existed under a cruel hacienda system at the end of the 20th century
- Most Kichwa people lived in small adobe huts and worked for landowners without pay, kept in debt, and subjected to violent punishment or humiliation
Dolores' Activism
- Organized rebellions in Indigenous communities
- Started clandestine schools in rural communities
- Fled from government discrimination and founded the country's first Indigenous organization, the Indigenous Federation of Ecuador (FEI)
- Fought for Indigenous workers' fair pay, especially for women forced to work in homes for free
- Worked with the socialist party and later the communist party to help Indigenous people organize unions in the 1920s
Legacy and Recognition
- Barely mentioned in Ecuador's schools, which focus on the country's colonizers and nation-making
- Featured in some history and social science textbooks since 2016 with a photo and small quote
- Not portrayed as an important political activist who fought against the hacienda system and advanced Indigenous rights
- Name is chanted in marches to inspire and encourage people to continue the fight for Indigenous rights
Learn about the life and activism of María Dolores Cacuango Quilo, an indigenous leader who fought for the rights of Quechua and indigenous farmers in Ecuador. Discover her contributions to feminism and the defense of the Quechua language.
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