Engaging in research to uncover the meaning of syncretism and mestizaje, nurtured my understanding of cultural exchange, and allowed me to connect with my environment and heritage. Within Peru, there’s a strong prevalance of “mestizo” ethnicity, showcased through an interesting mix between Incan and Catholic religious practices and rituals. Moreover, it is perceived as homogenizing and unifying, as it brings together the country as a national identity, and serves as a nod to our past and history. However, it sometimes makes me question whether this enorcement  of “mestizo” cultural practices attempts to erase some of Incan identity before colonization, given the strong predominance of Catholicism in the country. For instance, last week marked 528 years since Columbus arrived in America, and in Peru, it’s still celebrated as the day of the “discovery” of this continent, rather than its “colonization”. Thus, it has always remained a huge issue in peruvian society, that they often praise the Spanish side of our “mestizaje” at the expense of ancestral Incan traditions.

For this reason, I found the lecture on the Garinagu to shift my perspective on how we perceive identity in the context of “Mestizaje”. This community approaches their roots in a completely different manner than Peruvian society, they recognize their identity in ways that acknowledges their heritage on the basis of pride. Whilst Peruvian identity stems from colonization, the Garinagu celebrate their resilience agaisnt those who attempted to colonize them, which consequently erases all possibilities of feeling ashamed of their past. Their cultural practices all revolve around the cultural exchanges of their ancestors, and are represented upon their daily life and foodways. This celebration of “Mestizaje”, which places it at the center of their daily lives makes it pivotal to their identity and creates an environment of pride and admiration for their history. By reading about the Garinagu, I managed to learn that there are different facets to “Mestizaje” and that it’s not simply based upon a history of oppression and shame.