Chachi people (also Cayapas) are an

ethnic group An ethnic group or an ethnicity is a grouping of people who identify with each other on the basis of shared attributes that distinguish them from other groups. Those attributes can include common sets of traditions, ancestry, language, history, ...

who live in the

rainforest Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainfores ...

area of northwestern Esmeraldas on the northern coast 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: ' ...

. They live by the

Cayapas River The Cayapas River is in northern Ecuador, flowing northward from the Andes and emptying into the Pacific Ocean near San Lorenzo. The Santiago River is a principal tributary. Fauna Fish *'' Andinoacara sapayensis'' - A Cichlid. See also * ...

in the Centro El Encanto, a section of the

Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve Cotacachi Cayapas Reserve contains of land and is located in the Imbabura and Esmeraldas provinces of Ecuador from Quito. Elevations in the reserve range from about in the east to Cotacachi Volcano which reaches an elevation of in the sou ...

, as do Afro Ecuadorian people; the two groups have co-existed in the forest for about 400 years. There were approximately 5,000 Chachi in 2003.

History

According to Chachi oral tradition, they originated in Imbabura Province in the mountains near Ibarra, fleeing after the Castilian invasion and spent time in Chimborazo. They were forced to settle in the area after the Spanish conquest of Ibarra, which led them to move to Esmeraldas. They have traditionally been known as Cayapas (''Cay'', meaning "son"; ''Apa'', meaning "father"). However, after rejecting the term "Father's Son", from 1978, the people have been called Chachi ("pure"). The Chachi speak a Barbacoan language named Cayapa. Linguistically, their closest living relatives are the Tsachila people of Ecuador. Today, they inhabit the river valleys of the Cayapas, Canandé, and

Muisne River The Muisne River is a river of Ecuador that enters the Pacific Ocean in the Esmeraldas Province. The Muisne River is the main river in Cojimíes sub-region of the Manabí mangroves ecoregion. It discharges into the Pacific. The low-keyed Muisn ...

s in Esmeraldas Province.

Culture

Chachi people are characterized as being marginalized and poor. Homes are built on stilts with sides and a roof of thatch. Women's clothing includes a loose skirt with a sash at the waist while men wear a long shirt with pants; both men and women have bare chests. Since colonization, Chachi have converted to Catholicism. The group's leader is known as "Uni" while the "Chaitalas" hold a lesser role. The canoe provides a means of transportation. Bark is used to form a kind of paper or fabric. Their economy is based on traditional subsistence agriculture and fishing. However, the Chachi are well noted for their basketwork, and they sell their craft items in stalls in Borbón, Limones, Esmeraldas and

Quito Quito (; qu, Kitu), formally San Francisco de Quito, is the capital and largest city of Ecuador, with an estimated population of 2.8 million in its urban area. It is also the capital of the province of Pichincha. Quito is located in a valley on ...

History

Culture

References

Further reading