Chicha is a fermented corn drink essential to all the fiestas and festivals of the indigenous community. In the past, the militaristic government did everything in their power to prevent the indigenous from drinking or making chicha. Anyone who tried was killed on the spot. However, that didn’t deter el pueblo Imbabureño – in fact, chicha became integral to the very fabric of the Kichwa identity. From the community gatherings where one cup of chicha is passed around for all to share to cups served with fritada, it serves as a reminder of the resilience and pride of the Kichwa culture.
Chicha, the Symbol of Indigenous Strength
