Andean Lives is my favourite text so far. The book offers a testimonial account of two people living in the Andes, a married couple named Gregorio and Asunta. So far, our readings have mostly provided an observational account of Indigenous people so it was intriguing to read personal testimonies from Indigenous voices that are not widely represented. What I found most interesting is the resilience of our narrators who endured tremendous suffering throughout their lives. For example, Gregorio spoke about the loss of his first and only child and the loss of two of his wives. Despite experiencing significant loss, Gregorio continued pursuing different economic avenues and kept an open heart, which led him to meet his wife Asunta. Neither he nor Asunta allowed the tragedy of death and abuse in their life to threaten their survival.
Something I found striking was the recognition and acceptance of the natural sufferings that come with their daily realities. In the chapter called “Earth Mother, Crokeeper, and the Three Brothers, Gregorio describes the sufferings that come with his reality and how he navigates the throes of life:
“Such is life for the runa peasant, if you don't have a lot of kinfolk, you
suffer, and then you're always having to exchange or sell your labor in ayni or
mink'a. When you swap ayni favors, you have to put your heart into it, and
when they come help you, you've got to treat them right”
In this quote, Gregorio demonstrates a stoic outlook on the natural maladies that accompany life as a runa peasant, but also understands how to navigate these throes by connecting with one’s community. In Gregorio’s narrative, he often uses the phrase “Such is life”, exhibiting his acceptance of the difficulties that come with his life as a peasant. Instead of complaining about these hardships, Gregorio and other Andeans in his position subscribe to the practice of ayni or mink’a which is central to Andean community culture. I admire this practice of ayni, because even though the people do not have significant material wealth, they can assist each other through labour, and they do so willingly as Gregorio affirms that “you must put your heart into it”. Exchanging labour helps strengthen relationships within the community, and highlights themes we’ve discussed such as duty and reciprocity, In modern society, we perform transactions through a monetary exchange, but through ayni, the transaction does not end through a simple payment, instead, when a service is performed the relationship is extended through these additional favours. Overall, the quote from "Andean Lives" demonstrates stoicism through its portrayal of resilience in the face of adversity, a sense of duty and reciprocity in community interactions, and an acknowledgment of the interconnectedness of individuals within their social context.
"Exchanging labour helps strengthen relationships within the community, and highlights themes we’ve discussed such as duty and reciprocity." That organic way of thinking about work can be liberating. After reading your blog I can't stop thinking about Mariátegui and his idea of “Andean communism”, and in what ways it may still be pulsating within the exploitative relations that Indigenous communities experience, but as a possibility for radical change. Maybe that ancestral way is also in fighters like Hugo Blanco.