The Tsáchila

The Tsachila, also called Colorados (colored people), are an indigenous tribe that lives in the Ecuadorian province of Santo Domingo. They speak Tsafiki, a member of the barbacoan linguistic family, which literally means “true word.”

Population

According to a 1997 census, the Tsáchila population had reached 2,640 inhabitants grouped into eight communities: Cóngoma Grante (St. John), Los Naranjos, El Búho de los Colorados, El Poste, Peripa, Chigüilpe, Otongo Mapalí, and Filomena Aguavil (Tahuaza). These communities are located in the rural district of Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas.

Geography

The Tsachilas live in the foothills of the western branch of the Andes Mountains.[1] The province covers an area of 3,857 km² with an altitude of 625 m, and is located 120 km from the Pacific Ocean. The province shares its northern and eastern border with Pichincha province, its northeastern with Esmeraldas, its western with Manabí, its southern with Los Ríos, and its southeastern with Cotopaxi. Ecuador’s northwestern region experiences the heaviest rainfall in the country. This zone is rich in hydrological resources where five important basins and micro-basins are located in:[2] (1) the White River basin to the east and northeast in the middle and lower course of Toachi; (2) to the south, the sub-basin of Borbón which is part of the Guayas river great basin, and is joined with the Babis (Niño Torres); (3) the southeast, the Peripa river sub-basin; (4) to the northeast, the sub-basin of Quinindé, along with the White River sub-basin; and (5) the northeast belonging to the Esmeralda River basin.[3] The city is located at the bottom of the Toachi river basin, which is located to the east side of the city. The point of highest altitude is the Bombolí hill.

Traducción en inglés:

Tsáchila people

The Tsachila, also called Colorados (colored people), are an indigenous tribe that live in the Ecuadorian province of Santo Domingo. Their native language is Tsafiki, a member of the linguistic family Barbacoan, and translates to mean true word.

Población:

According to the 1997 census, their population had reached 2,640 habitantes. These are grouped into eight communities: Cóngoma Grante (St. John), Los Naranjos, El Búho de los Colorados, El Poste, Peripa, Chigüpe, Otongo Mapalí, and Filomena Aguavil (Tahuaza). These communities are located in the rural canton of Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas.

Geography

The Tsachila people are located near the base of the Andes Mountains. The province has a serface area of 3,857 km², an altitud of 625 m, and is located 120 km from the Pacific Ocean. The province shares a border to the north and east with Pichincha, to the northeast with, to the west with Manabí, to the south with Los Ríos, and the southeast with Cotopaxi. Ecuador’s northwestern zone is the zone that receives the most rainfall in the country. It has a great hydrological wealth where five important basins and micro-basins are located: The east and northeast, the middle and lower course of Toachi, belongs to the White River basin; to the south, the sub-basin of Borbón which belongs to the Guayas river great basin, and is joined with the Babis (Nino Torres); In the southeast, the Peripa river sub-basin; to the northeast. The sub-basin of Quinindé, along with the White River sub-basin; the northeast belongs to the Esmeralda River basin. The city is located at the end of the Toachi river basin which is located to the east side of the city. It doesn’t have any higher elevations except for the Bombolí hill.