Wiphala Flutters in Toronto Sky for Third Time

[Organizing Committee and guests at the Third Solemn Raising of the Wiphala in Toronto, Canada September 25 of 2004.]

Fostered by CANO- Andean First Nations Council, and with the honorable City Council’s assistence, has been raised at Toronto’s flagpole for the third time the Sacred Andean Flag, the Wiphala. Accorrdingly to our cosmovision, this era marks the return to an Earth without evil, the return to balance and the recuperation of our Native spirituality, identity, territory, dignity, where our dearest Pachamama and venerated Pachakamak harmonize new ways of living.

This event is another opportunity to reaffirm our identity and proclaim our real emancipation everywhere on the planet, breaking with the old schemes, out-of-date structures, corrupted mentalities, and pernicious tendencies. The sight of our Wiphala’s colours in Toronto Sky got us really cheered us up. A ceremonial and joyful feeling took over the crowd and got every single person to feel deeply touched.

Pronouncing emotive welcome words, the event’s principar instigator and CANO Toronto founding member Marco Guzman, opened the event and ceremonially welcomed our Native Sisters Michele and Brenda, from the Spirit Wind Signers Group. They sang to the beat of the drums “ Flag Song ” and “ honour song ”, both dedicated to the Wiphala. Voices and drums full of meanings that sealed the brotherhood between North and South First Nations of Turtle Island and Abya Yala.

[Susana Condori, President 2004-2005 of CANO-Toronto, Victor López from Maya Sac’be Council of Toronto, René et Sofía Ignacio, our Elders that took charge to rise the Wiphala, Mary Vargas, Ramsés Calderón. At back: Marco Guzman et Iván Ignacio]

At noon, under a radious sun and a pleasant temperature, the flag raising ceremony opened up. In the hands of our Aymara Nation Elders  René and Sofia Ignacio, slowly appeared our legendary emblem in a blue sky, while the solitary and magic flute of Ramsés Calderon gave life to the Native song “ El Condor Pasa ”. The moment the Wiphala got to the top of the Toronto City Hall flagpole was high in emotions. The Honorable City Council, by the voice of Mae maracle, its Native representant, gave a message honouring and aknowledging the Wiphala and the Andean Natives living in Toronto, ratifying the multiculturalism and cosmopolitan qualities of the City, words to which the assistance cheered and applaused.

Immediately after, CANO National Coordinator Ivan Ignacio put to attention the reasons why this solemn and emblematic event had been organized. He first  mentionned CANO’s eight aniversary, then got on explicating the special meaning of september 21 for the First Nations, as it is the day on which they celebrate Q’uya Raymi. Accordingly with the agricultural calendar, it evoques Fertility, gives a start to sowing season for the main andean crops such as quinua , potato and corn, and concentrates the hopes for good harvests. It is also a time corresponding to the Woman as a vital being.

Ignacio also spoke on the sacred side and the millenay-old origins of the Wiphala, mentionning that “ The Wiphala is the mythical representation of the lunar-solar and agricultural calendar. It reflects Andean Nations community-based ways to organize, which are based on harmony, reciprocity and equality. He admonished the guests to work on “ a world where justice, social, environmental and political balance will reign ”. He added that “ The Wiphala is also a symbol of Science, technology, art, socioeconomic developpment, political, cultural and philosophical developpment of the Andean Peoples. ”

The Aymara man ended by mentionning that “  the Andean Countries’ ruling minorities have always considered as a subversive act the use of Wiphala. That’s why the Wiphala now also symbolises our resistence and hope for liberty.

These words were followed by those of Susan Condori, Qheshwa woman and CANO Toronto current President. She summed up the efforts of the child of the Earth and Sun to survive and keep their millenary-old traditions alive.

[Wayna Thaki Music Group : Armando Chalco, Juan Carlos Tarifa, Juan Amachi, Iván Ignacio (Special guest) andt Carlos Astorga)]

Immediately after ,the Peruvian, Ayacucho-native group “ Danzaq el Peru ”, demonstrated their amazing talents. Its gifted four members, Hector Bautista, Michael Baldeon, Miguel Flores y Gualberto Mendoza, gave an astounding 15 minutes show of dance, andean harp and violin that got all the public’s focus. They were followed by the Andean group “ Wayna Thaki ” from bolivian Altiplano, integrated by Aymaras and Qhishwas, who played on their traditional Sikus (Pan flutes) and Wankaras (Drums) two joyful songs. Ending the event was the “Apthapi ” community meal, where all could snack on delicious andean food and where Huancayo-born Jesus Leon and spouse Beatriz de la Cruz’s generous chicha contribution won the popularity contest!

That’s how ended this act of freedom and identity affirmation for our andean First Nations, that took place for the third time in this northern and far-away canadian city.

¡¡¡Jallalla Wiñaymarca!!!  ¡¡¡Causachun Carullajta!!!

Third Raising of the Wiphala in Toronto

On Saturday September 25th, 2004 at the podium of Toronto's City Hall at noon (12,00 o'clock) the Wiphala will be raised for the third time in Canada. The Wiphala is the sacred emblem of andean indigenous whose territory includes Bolivia, Ecuador, Perú, northern Chile and Argentina and southern Colombia.

The Wiphala, a square shaped flag consisting of 49 small squares of the 7 colours of the rainbow with a graduation of the colours from the brightest to the palest will be raised at the music of the sacred andean nacional anthem "El Condor Pasa".

The political use of the Wiphala has always been considered subversive by the governing minorities, or also misused as a folkloric object. Today we raise the Wiphala in the Northern Abya-Yalan Sky, taking it out from the clandestinity in which it has been kept until recently (the colonial power had inclusively prohibited pronouncing its name.)

The Wiphala is also the mythical representation of the solar, lunar and agricultural calendar. It represents the cosmic system which identifies the organization of the communal system bases on harmony, unity, mutuality and equality of the Aboriginal Andean First Nations. As philosophical symbol, it represents the evolution of science, technology, art, the socio-economic, political and cultural aspects of the Andean communal system. 

The Andean First Nations Council (Consejo Andino de Naciones Originarias, CANO),would like to invite all to this event honouring the Andean Native people living in Toronto, the Autumn Equinox and the Eighth Anniversary of CANO.

For more information please contact:Susana Condori (416) 466-5999