 Topography of Santander Department The Lache lived in highlands of the eastern part, continuing into Boyacá | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 0 (2004) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
Santander, Boyacá,  Colombia | |
| Languages | |
| Chibcha | |
| Religion | |
| Traditional | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| U'wa, Muisca, Guane |
The Lache were an indigenous, agrarian people in the highlands of what is now central Colombia's northern Boyacá and Santander departments, primarily in Gutiérrez Province and García Rovira Province.[1][2] They were part of the Cocuy Confederation[3] and spoke Chibcha, trading predominantly with other Chibcha speakers, such as the Muisca, Guane, Pijao and Chitarero.[4] Trade included salt and textiles, as well as food stuffs.[4][5] The Lache farmed maize, potatoes, quinoa and cotton, among other crops.[6]
In the 17th century, Lucas Fernández de Piedrahita wrote of the habit of the Laches in bringing up younger male children as culturally female.[7][8]
The name Lache is preserved in a barrio of Bogotá known as Los Laches.
- ^ (in Spanish) Los Laches y Chitareros y sus caminos a la llegada de los españoles
- ^ Rodríguez 1992, p. 17
- ^ Rueda, Carl Henrik Langebaek (1987). "Tres formas de acceso a recursos en territorio de la confederación del Cocuy, siglo XVI". Boletín Museo del Oro (in Spanish). 18: 29–45.
- ^ a b Rodríguez 1992, p. 18
- ^ Acuña Rodríguez, Blanca Ofelia (2006). "Territorio indígena de la sal en la Sierra Nevada del Cocuy. S. XVI" (PDF). Historia y Espacio (in Spanish) (27). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-10-21. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
- ^ Rodríguez 1996
- ^ Trexler 1999, p. 86
- ^ Tribín, Hugo Armando Sotomayor (June 2003). "Una reflexión histórico - antropológica sobre el maltrato infantil en Colombia (Segunda Parte)". Pediatria (in Spanish). 38 (2). Archived from the original on 5 April 2009.