Return of the Yumbos: A cultural happening in Nanegal, Ecuador

Ronald D. Lippi, Alejandra M. Gudiño and Estanislao Pazmiño T. 79th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology

Austin, Texas

April, 2014

NAGPRA-related photos

in U.S.

Cited writers on Natives and archaeology

Bruce G. Trigger

Randall H. Mcguire

Joe Watkins

Robert McGhee

Vine Deloria, Jr.

Sonya Atalay

Palmitopamba excavations

NL-20

NL-18

NL-30

Yumbos

Nanegal/Palmitopamba

Yumbo

chiefdoms

Tsáchila

reserves

Quichuas

de Quijos

E C U A D O R

Yumbos as painted by Spaniards

Tsáchila family

Quichuas de Quijos

“Reaching out” to Yumbos and Tsáchilas

2004 “ritual” at NL-20 2006 visit to Tsáchila ethnographic museum

2007 “tobacco ritual” at NL-18 2012 oral history pilot with Tsáchilas

Indigenous guests welcomed at parish offices

Adán Ortiz (white cap) spoke to guests about the “last Yumbos” of Nanegal

“The Return of the Yumbos” July 4-5, 2013

Guests visit Oronsona rockshelter and waterfall

Tsáchilas and Quichuas agree on ritual details for the following day

Reburial ritual concludes as dawn breaks

Sun-greeting ritual follows reburial

Banners directed visitors to Palmitopamba

Part of the public is seen awaiting the start of the program

Quichuas took their turn speaking about their

culture

… and performing traditional music

Tsáchila and Quichua ritual leaders direct consecration ceremony at archaeological site

Consecration ceremony continues at site

Archaeologists, local leaders and indigenous guests salute

the public at conclusion of ceremony

Quichuas demonstrate traditional Yumbo meal at resort

Tsáchila poné (“shaman”) with his apprentices and U.S. students in 2006

Tsáchila curers and herbalists: “tourist shamanism”

Agua Blanca site museum

Salango community museum

San Marcos: Museo Cacique Baltacho

Sta. Elena: Museo Los Amantes de Sumpa

Tulipe site museum

Fake Yumbo ritual at Tulipe site

Acknowledgements

• The Butler Foundation (New Hampshire)

• Quichuas de Quijos representatives

• Tsáchila representatives

• Nanegal Parish Government

• Archaeology students: Esteban Acosta, Byron Ortiz, Christian Brito, Salomé Osorio

Co-authors/Co-directors