Lache people

Lache people
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.

  1. ^ (in Spanish) Los Laches y Chitareros y sus caminos a la llegada de los españoles
  2. ^ Rodríguez 1992, p. 17
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b Rodríguez 1992, p. 18
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Rodríguez 1996
  7. ^ Trexler 1999, p. 86
  8. ^ 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.