Américo Mendoza-Mori
Latinx Studies Working Group and Co-founder of the Quechua Alliance, Américo has dedicated much of his work to the preservation and revitalization of Quechua and other Indigenous languages.
In his lecture, “Presence and Cultural Relevance of Indigenous Languages in Our Everyday Life: The Case of the Quechua,” he discussed the resilience and survival of Quechua, a language spoken by 8-10 million people across the Andean region. He emphasized how the reclamation of Indigenous languages is not only about communication but also about preserving Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), which are deeply connected to the land, history, and wisdom of Indigenous peoples.
Américo highlighted the essential role Indigenous languages play in broader discussions on social and environmental justice, decolonization, climate change, human rights, and education. His insights during this Emergent Voices talk illustrated the vital need to center Indigenous knowledge in global conversations, making it clear that language reclamation is key to cultural survival and empowerment.
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