Micaela Jerez Masaquiza and Elsa Caín Yuqilema, two indigenous women from Ecuador, are teaching the Kichwa language at Michigan State University (MSU) as part of the Fulbright exchange program.
For them, this work goes beyond linguistic teaching: it represents a form of cultural resistance in a world where indigenous languages, such as Kichwa, are in danger of disappearing.
Originally from Salasaka and Riobamba, respectively, these educators transmit not only the language but also the richness of their cultural heritage to American students. Through classes, traditional ceremonies, and their participation in indigenous student organizations like Timetzalimet, they have created spaces for reflection on the loss of original cultures.
In an environment where English and other popular languages predominate, their work highlights the importance of preserving vulnerable languages like Kichwa, spoken by only 3.9% of the Ecuadorian population, according to the 2022 census.
Both professors face challenges such as the lack of appreciation for the language and linguistic discrimination, but their work at MSU is an act of memory and hope, reaffirming that speaking and teaching Kichwa is an active form of cultural resistance.
In addition, in February 2025, the Instituto Superior Universitario Tecnológico del Azuay graduated more than 100 students in the Ancestral Kichwa Language program, demonstrating the growing interest and commitment to the preservation of this ancestral language.
The teaching of Kichwa in educational institutions in the United States and Canada has gained relevance in recent years. According to reports, Quechua, an ancestral language of the Andes, is taught in at least 25 universities in these countries, reflecting a growing interest on the part of students who seek to connect with their cultural roots.
These joint efforts in Ecuador and abroad underline the importance of keeping indigenous languages and their associated culture alive, contributing to their preservation and strengthening in the 21st century.