Apu Mallku is an

Aymara Aymara may refer to: Languages and people * Aymaran languages, the second most widespread Andean language ** Aymara language, the main language within that family ** Central Aymara, the other surviving branch of the Aymara(n) family, which today ...

title meaning "supreme leader" or "king" conferred on a

Mallku Mallku is a title roughly translating as "prince" or "leader" in the Aymara language of South America. They recognise an Apu Mallku as their "supreme leader" or "king". There is also an institution called the ''Council of Mallkus and Amautas'' whi ...

or "prince". The Apu Mallku's mandate is to oversee the vast network of

Ayllus The ''ayllu'', a family clan, is the traditional form of a community in the Andes, especially among Quechuas and Aymaras. They are an indigenous local government model across the Andes region of South America, particularly in Bolivia and Peru. ...

, an ancient Andean system of governing councils that predates even the

Inca The Inca Empire (also known as the Incan Empire and the Inka Empire), called ''Tawantinsuyu'' by its subjects, (Quechua for the "Realm of the Four Parts", "four parts together" ) was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The admin ...

empire. It appears that the mandate of the Apu Mallku was initially restricted to the

Collasuyu Qullasuyu (Quechua and Aymara spelling, ; Hispanicized spellings: ''Collasuyu, Kholla Suyu'') was the southeastern provincial region of the Inca Empire. Qullasuyu is the region of the Qulla and related specifically to the native Qulla Quechuas wh ...

(the traditional Aymara lands of

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

, parts of

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

and northern

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

) but it could now be interpreted (since a resolution in 2000) to extend to the bounds of the much larger former

realm of the

Tawantinsuyu The Inca Empire (also known as the Incan Empire and the Inka Empire), called ''Tawantinsuyu'' by its subjects, (Quechua for the "Realm of the Four Parts", "four parts together" ) was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The admin ...

which stretched throughout the

Andes The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...

incorporating the modern states of

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...

and

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

. The self-appellation for the people of this combined territory is ''Qullana''. It would seem through the ayllus system there is a large degree of coordination between both the Aymara and the

Quechua Quechua may refer to: *Quechua people, several indigenous ethnic groups in South America, especially in Peru *Quechuan languages, a Native South American language family spoken primarily in the Andes, derived from a common ancestral language **So ...

nations. Apu Mallku was the title bestowed upon

Evo Morales Juan Evo Morales Ayma (; born 26 October 1959) is a Bolivian politician, trade union organizer, and former cocalero activist who served as the 65th president of Bolivia from 2006 to 2019. Widely regarded as the country's first president to co ...

on 21 January 2006 at

Tiwanaku Tiwanaku ( es, Tiahuanaco or ) is a Pre-Columbian archaeological site in western Bolivia near Lake Titicaca, about 70 kilometers from La Paz, and it is one of the largest sites in South America. Surface remains currently cover around 4 square kilo ...

, the day before his official inauguration as

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

Apu Mallku

* Juan

Ayma, the incumbent (2006– ) * Antonio Machaca (2004–2006?) * Vicente Flores Lorenza Mostacero (2003–2004?) * Max Paredes (2000–2003)

National Council of Ayllus and Markas of the Qullasuyu (Conamaq)

This parliament or ''Jacha Ulaka'' consists of 150 delegates sent from the ayllus of the Greater

region. This region is also called ''Qullakas Asanajaqes''. The parliament holds regular meetings at

and

Cochabamba Cochabamba ( ay, Quchapampa; qu, Quchapampa) is a city and municipality in central Bolivia in a valley in the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cochabamba Department and the fourth largest city in Bolivia, with a population of 63 ...

and other places. It was first constituted on March 22, 1997, and was composed of the regional organizations: Jatun Quillakas Asanajaqis, J'acha Carangas,

Charka Qhara Qhara Charka may refer to: * Charka, Jangipur, a census town in India * An obsolete unit of liquid measure in Russia * Satya Narayana Charka, American dancer See also * Charkha (disambiguation) * Charkas, a village in Kermanshah Province, Iran *Ch ...

, First Nations' Council of Potosi's Ayllus, Qhara Qhara, Ayllus of Cochabamba, Jach'a Suyu Pakajak'i, Urus, Saoras-Chuwis, and

Kallawaya The Kallawaya are an indigenous group living in the Andes of Bolivia. They live in the Bautista Saavedra Province and Muñecas Province of the La Paz Department but are best known for being an itinerant group of traditional healers that t ...

Council of Mallkus and Amautas of the Parliament of the Qullana

There is also an institution called the ''Council of Mallkus and Amautas'' which acts rather like an upper house consisting of four delegates from each of the modern states that comprise the ''Qullakas Asanajaqes''. During the period 2000 - 2003 those delegates were:

Jalsuri (Bolivia)

* Max Paredes * Julian Bautista * Félix López * Representative of Potosí (Quechua)

Araxa (Peru)

* Teofilo Lauracio * Esteban Mamani * Fortunato Escobar * Gladiz Vázques

Jalanta (Chile)

* Magdalena Choque * Crispín Chura * Joaquin García * Alejandra Flores

Aynacha (Argentina)

* Gerónimo Alvarez * Celina Avendaño * Saturnino Mamani * Natalia Zana Pura

Quotations

{{quote, The 500 years of Indian resistance have not been in vain. From 500 years of resistance we pass to another 500 years in power. The will of the people was imposed...and has begun to overcome the empire's cannons. We have lived for so many years through the confrontation of two cultures: the culture of life represented by the indigenous people, and the culture of death represented by West.,

, Apu Mallku, 2006

References

*https://web.archive.org/web/20051125113751/http://www.aymaranet.org/ParlamentoAymara10.html *https://web.archive.org/web/20050903171723/http://www.aymara.org/chaxwa/noticias02/ppqa.html *http://www.llacta.org/organiz/coms/com629.htm *https://web.archive.org/web/20070107183218/http://www.renacerbol.com.ar/varios/notasextras/ingles01.htm *La Ciudad (Bolivia Edition) - May 25, 2004 Politics of Bolivia Titles of national or ethnic leadership