Cabildo Mayor del Pueblo Muisca facts for kids
| Named after | Muisca |
|---|---|
| Formation | September 22, 2002 |
| Founded at | Bosa, Bogotá |
| Type | Indigenous organisation |
| Purpose | Education and culture Health, territory and environment Interethnic relations Linguistics |
| Headquarters | Bosa, Bogotá |
|
Region
|
Altiplano Cundiboyacense Boyacá, Cundinamarca  Colombia |
|
Official language
|
Muysccubun, Colombian Spanish |
|
Parent organization
|
ONIC |
The Cabildo Mayor del Pueblo Muisca is an important group for indigenous people. Specifically, it helps the Muisca people. This organization started in September 2002. It was founded in Bosa, a part of Bogotá, Colombia.
This group is a member of the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC). Its main goals are to protect the rights of Muisca descendants. It also works to keep their culture and history alive. The Cabildo Mayor focuses on their land, health, and the Muisca language, called Muysccubun.
Contents
Who are the Muisca people?
The Muisca were the original people living in the Altiplano Cundiboyacense. This is a high plateau in the Eastern Mountains of the Colombian Andes. The word "Muisca" means "people" or "person" in their language, Muysccubun.
They lived in fertile areas like the Bogotá savanna. In March 1537, Spanish explorers arrived. They named the native people "Muisca" or "Muysca". The Muisca language is part of the Chibchan languages family.
Muisca leaders and the Spanish arrival
The Muisca people had different leaders. The most powerful leader in the south was the zipa of Bacatá. The zipa when the Spanish arrived was Tisquesusa. He died in April 1537.
After him, Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada founded Bogotá on August 6, 1538. This started the New Kingdom of Granada. Later, other Spanish leaders took over. They forced the Muisca people to work.
Life under Spanish rule
During the time of Spanish rule, the Muisca were made to work. They had to give gold, emeralds, and other valuable things. They also worked in mines for emeralds, coal, and salt.
The Spanish also tried to change the Muisca's religion. They wanted them to become Christian. The last public religious ceremony of the Muisca happened in December 1563.
Many Muisca people got sick from European diseases. Diseases like smallpox and typhus caused a huge drop in their population. Also, many Muisca and Europeans married. This led to a mix of cultures and people, called mestizaje.
The Muisca language was thought to be lost by the late 1700s. But today, there are projects to bring it back. In the early days of Spanish rule, Muisca communities were in areas like Bosa and Bogotá. The area of Suba, Bogotá, was home to Muisca people since about 800 AD.
The Cabildo Mayor del Pueblo Muisca today
Many cabildos (councils) for indigenous people were formed in Colombia in 1989. In 1999, the Muisca communities met. They planned how to organize their people better.
From September 20 to 22, 2002, Muisca communities gathered. They came from Bosa, Suba, Cota, Chía, and Sesquilé. They met in Bosa for the first Congreso General del Pueblo Muisca. There, they created the Cabildo Mayor del Pueblo Muisca. It became a member of the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC).
The Cabildo Mayor del Pueblo Muisca also helps other Muisca communities. These include those in Ubaté, Tocancipá, Soacha, Ráquira, and Tenjo. In 2010, two kindergartens were opened for Muisca children.
What the Cabildo does
The Cabildo works in five main areas:
- Education and culture
- Health
- Relations with other groups
- Land and environment
- Linguistics (study of language)
See also
In Spanish: Cabildo Mayor del Pueblo Muisca para niños
