Chachi people (also Cayapas) are an ethnic group 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 rainfo ...

area of northwestern Esmeraldas on the northern coast of

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

. They live by the Cayapas River in the Centro El Encanto, a section of the Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve, 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 Ibarra (which means ''alluvial plain'' in Basque) may refer to: Places * Ibarra Canton, Ecuador ** Ibarra, Ecuador, the capital of Imbabura Province and the canton *** Roman Catholic Diocese of Ibarra, inside the city * Ibarra, Gipuzkoa, a lo ...

, 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 Barbacoan (also Barbakóan, Barbacoano, Barbacoana) is a language family spoken in Colombia and Ecuador. Genealogical relations The Barbacoan languages may be related to the Páez language. Barbacoan is often connected with the Paezan languages ...

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 Muisne ...

s in

Esmeraldas Province Esmeraldas () is a province in northwestern Ecuador. The capital is Esmeraldas. The province is home to the Afro-Ecuadorian culture. Demographics Ethnic groups as of the Ecuadorian census of 2010: *Mestizo 44.7% * Afro-Ecuadorian 43.9% * ...

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 city, 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 Province, Pichincha ...

History

Culture

References

Further reading