IN STEREO

[Heritage] is also the identity of a people, a country, isn’t it? In other words, it is the identity of the indigenous people, we would say. Other generations identify with that type of culture, thinking, being. All this is being lost. The identity of the indigenous people is being lost. Of course, it is the source, not only of wisdom, but also of the events that have happened. They are true sources, so that other people, other generations – not only in Bolivia, but also of the world – can know what happened at the beginning, in Potosí. Otherwise, it just disappears in time. [So] it would have to be important for the very inhabitants of the place itself, wouldn’t it? And as we live in a globalised world, thanks to this heritage other countries, other people know us, and know the origin of how Bolivia was formed – how a community, a country, a people has been formed. But unfortunately, that is not [the case] in Bolivia.

We ourselves are not interested. Being realistic, [those who come from outside] are more interested and know more than us [about] our culture, our tradition, and all this. When someone asks us, we paint a nice image, but the reality is different. The lack of interest in ourselves, to know our own history, to take no interest in all these things… Those who come from outside, they are very interested. I have seen them participate in parties for tourists – Ch’utillos, for example – or in protest marches, playing with dynamite. How interested they are in going inside to know a reality! But to us, the majority of Bolivians, we are not so interested. For the people of Bolivia to be aware of their past, of their history, of their origin, their worth, I believe the governments have to promote the awareness-raising, the interest in all this, from school. That real interest of the people who visit us is a big challenge to us. – Padre Efrain