Peru: Indigenous Peoples and Globalization

Program Overview


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In the SIT Peru: Indigenous Peoples and Globalization study abroad program, students examine traditional and contemporary societies in Peru, a country that is home to one of the largest indigenous populations in the Americas. Through thematic coursework, field study, and primary research, students explore the ways in which Peru has been shaped by complex historical legacies, a multiethnic composition, and profound social and economic disparities between its different ethnic populations. By examining the Quechua, native Amazon, and mestizos experiences in the Peruvian context, students acquire a deeper understanding of the lives, cultures, and challenges of indigenous peoples in relation to the forces of identity politics and globalization.

The program is based in the sacred city of Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire. In Cusco, students improve their Spanish competency and also begin learning basic Quechua, an indigenous language of the Andean region. Once the official language of the Inca Empire, Quechua today is spoken in Peru by nearly one million people and provides a key transnational link to the region's indigenous communities. (It is also spoken in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Northern Argentina). By utilizing their improved language skills, and through deep cultural immersion in Peruvian communities, students experience the loss, resilience, and revitalization of the historical memory and legacy of Peru's indigenous people. These factors directly impact the opportunities and challenges facing indigenous communities in Peru today. 

Indigenous Cultures & Identities
Since the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, Peru has endured long-lasting struggles between its native peoples and Hispanic population. SIT students investigate the historical roots of current indigenous concerns shaping Peru. Topics for examination include: land reform; oil and gas exploration; identity-recognition; and the impact of international corporations.

SIT Study Abroad's extensive in-country networks provide students exceptional access to numerous perspectives and sources of knowledge: students engage with local leaders, indigenous oralists, artisans, laborers, farmers, historians, linguists, policymakers, scholars, and educators. Additionally, homestays in both urban and rural settings allow students to examine Peruvian identity from different standpoints. Complementary educational excursions to destinations in Andean, coastal, and Amazonian Peru expose students to the distinct oral, artistic, and social traditions of multiple communities.

Centro Bartolomé de las Casas
The Peru: Indigenous Peoples and Globalization program is housed in Centro Bartolomé de las Casas (CBC), the leading Peruvian Andean NGO focused specifically on indigenous and campesinos issues.  Established in 1974, CBC works with Southern Andean communities (Quechua and Aymara) and undertakes academic research on Andean realities and political processes.
The CBC comprises the Colegio Andino, the CBC library, and the Casa Campesina, all of which are located in downtown Cusco. The Colegio Andino, where SIT classes are held, offers academic programs focused on the social sciences and research opportunities for local professionals aimed at supporting social transformation initiatives in the Andean region. The Casa Campesina is a colonial house and, as its name suggests, offers accommodations for Quechua and Aymara campesinos visiting Cusco for personal or community purposes. The Casa Campesina also develops judicial initiatives such as the Communal Justice project aimed at developing a new multi-judicial system in Peru.
The CBC houses the largest library in the Peruvian Southern Andes, an outstanding resource to which SIT students have full access. The library's photography archive is especially valued for its Peruvian graphic history; the archive holds negative and celluloid photographs from 1870 to 1950. For more information about CBC, visit their website.

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