Mythologies of the Qulla Tribe

The Qulla (Quechuan for south, Hispanicized and mixed spellings: Colla, Kolla) are an indigenous people of western Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina living in west of Jujuy, and west of Salta Province. The 2004 Complementary Indigenous Survey reported 53,019 Qulla households living in Argentina. They moved freely between the borders of Argentina and Bolivia. Their lands are part of the yungas or high altitude forests at the edge of the Amazon rainforest. The Qulla have lived in their region for centuries. Sillustani is a prehistoric Qulla cemetery in Peru, with elaborate stone chullpas. Several groups made up the Qulla people, including the Zenta, and Gispira. The Qulla came into contact with Spaniards in 1540. They resisted the Spanish invasion for many years but ultimately failed and the Santiago Estate fell into Spanish hands. One particularly famous rebel leader was Ñusta Willaq, a female warrior who fought the Spanish in 1780. With Argentinian independence in 1810, the situation of the Qulla people did not improve and they worked for minimal wages. On 31 August 1945, Qulla communities in the northwestern Argentine provinces of Jujuy and Salta, through a group of representatives, sent a note to the National Agrarian Council demanding the restitution of their lands, in compliance with previous laws. On 17 January 1946 President Edelmiro Julián Farrell signed the expropriation decree. But as funds for the necessary land surveys and paperwork were in progress, the direction of the Council passed to other people, who blocked them. In 1946, Qulla people joined the Malón de la Paz, a march to the capital of Buenos Aires to demand the return of their lands.

The Colla, Qolla or Qulla Kingdom was established in the northwestern basin of the Titicaca, one of the Aymara kingdoms that occupied part of the Collao plateau after the fall of Tiwanaku. In the mid-15th century the Collas possessed a vast territory, one of the largest of the Aymara kingdoms, which at the time the 9th Sapan Inka Pachakutiq Yupanqui Qhapaq the Intipchurin ("son of the sun"), conquered along with other political entities in the region. The Inca empire named the Qullasuyo or Colla Region towards a larger region than the original Colla Kingdom, as the Aymara kingdoms with strong cultural ties between them were called by the Incas with the collective term of "Colla" as it was for them the most significant of them all. The Qulla were organized into two regions (Quechua and Aymara: Suyu): Urcosuyu (Urco: male, fire) and Umasuyu (Uma: female, water). Their capital was Hatunqulla, i.e. "Colla, the Great" located 34 km north of Puno in the Urcusuyu and was ruled by the dynasty of the Zapanas. The capital of the Umasuyu was Azangaro, which depended on Hatunqulla. This form of government based on duality was characteristic of the central Andean societies, in which both parts were complementary but one still ruled over the other, the Inca for example divided their empire and society in Hanan (Quechua: Upper) and Hurin (Quechua: Lower).

The Qulla, often referred to as the Kolla or Colla, were a conglomeration of Aymara-speaking communities that thrived in the Andean region of South America, particularly in what is now known as Bolivia, Peru, and parts of Chile and Argentina. Their civilization’s timeline stretches back to pre-Inca times, with their prominence peaking around the 15th century AD, just before the expansion of the Inca Empire. The Qulla were known for their adeptness in agriculture, herding, and weaving, which were central to their daily life and economy. One of the major moments in the history of the Qulla was their incorporation into the Inca Empire in the late 15th century AD. This integration was not entirely peaceful and involved military campaigns led by the Inca. Despite their eventual subjugation, the Qulla maintained a degree of autonomy, especially in their local governance and cultural practices. Their incorporation into the Inca Empire led to a blend of cultural and religious practices, although the Qulla managed to preserve many aspects of their identity. Religion played a significant role in the Qulla society, with a pantheon that included both local and regional deities. They practiced a form of animism, believing in the spiritual essence of natural elements and ancestors. The worship of Pachamama, the earth mother, was central, reflecting their deep connection to the land and agriculture. The arrival of the Inca introduced the worship of Inti, the sun god, but the Qulla incorporated it into their existing religious framework rather than abandoning their beliefs. Social and daily life among the Qulla was characterized by a strong sense of community and cooperation, especially in agricultural activities. They lived in ayllus, which were extended family groups that worked the land collectively. Their society was hierarchical, with local chiefs known as curacas overseeing the ayllus. The Qulla were skilled weavers and potters, and their textiles and ceramics were highly valued, often serving as tribute to the Inca rulers.