ABSTRACT
This chapter is a reflection of my father’s personal “lucha” (battle) for survival through his experiences of learning and “integration” into society as an Indigenous person of Quechua-speaking background. They include reflections of the past with moments of shock which are rendered by the rural-to-city transition, the helpless feeling of a child not understanding any word in class, and the realization that material goods, such as having shoes, differentiate one child from another. These memories are woven in a cyclical time frame, where past memories provide a glimpse into the present and future stories of my father, the people from Quitaracsa, and other Andean communities in Peru. This chapter explains how my father’s experiences continue being part of the present and future for his personal trajectory as a Quechua-scholar who continues his lucha for his ayllu. His stories are also part of the current and future stories of other Andean communities in Peru. Although conditions have improved, with elementary schools in remote Indigenous communities, the access to higher learning institutions are still limited. And, even with Quechua-speaking teachers, Spanish remains the dominant language of instruction. Despite its importance in shaping Peruvian identity and culture, Quechua continues to be considered as a language of the marginalized, and Indigenous peoples remain in their position having to accommodate to the dominant society for survival. The past lucha for Indigenous identity, language, and education is the struggle of the present, and speaks to the future of the Indigenous population of Peru.
