One in Jesus: Going Deeper with Mirian

Mestizo culture in Ecuador is the country’s dominant cultural identity, shaped by centuries of interaction between Indigenous peoples and Spanish colonizers. It’s not a single uniform culture—it's a mosaic that varies by region, history, and social context. Miran Valle shares her perspective on growing up in the Indigenous culture.

Can you share more information on the Mestizo culture with our readers?

The mestizo people are the result of a blending of cultures. With the arrival of the Spanish in our territory in the 16th century, a mixture of ethnicities emerged between Indigenous peoples and Europeans. Historically, this period was marked by violence and injustice. In this context, children born as mestizos often struggled to find a sense of belonging, as they were not fully accepted by either Indigenous communities or the Spanish.

Over time, the mestizo population grew and eventually became the majority in Ecuador. The influence of both Andean and European worldviews allowed for the development of a new, distinct culture. However, despite having roots in both traditions, mestizo society began to place greater value on European culture, often attempting to diminish Indigenous identity. This led to the creation of perceptions of superiority and inferiority.

As a result, a conflict of coexistence emerged within the same territory. From my perspective, the beginning of our history is closely connected to the ways of thinking we still see today.

I have learned that embracing the best of each culture and valuing one another can truly bring change and make a difference in this world.

Are there special customs or traditions that your family practiced or that you still practice today? What cultural activities or skills did you learn as a child?

Part of our family traditions has been mutual support, especially when it comes to building a house. My father used to say, “There is always something to do.” He encouraged us to be supportive, willing to help, and to stand by one another.

Indigenous culture is very hospitable. I remember that when I was a child, my home was an important place for families who came from the community to the city hospital due to health difficulties. My mother used to say that there is always enough food to share. I believe these are things we learn more through example than through words.

How would daily life in Kichwa/Mestizo culture compare with that of people living in Cayambe whose families are not Indigenous? (Common
customs or routines in Indigenous households.)

From my experience and Indigenous perspective, the way of understanding the world is different. The Indigenous worldview is collective, meaning that individual well-being depends on the well-being of the community. In contrast, among the mestizo population, a more individual-centered way of thinking tends to prevail.

For people living in rural areas, accessing quality education and healthcare can be difficult due to economic constraints, the distance between rural areas and cities, and daily responsibilities such as caring for animals and working in agriculture. On the other hand, for the mestizo population living in urban areas, access to these services is generally more feasible.

Life in the countryside begins very early in the morning (around 3:00 or 4:00 a.m.). As small-scale producers, people go out to milk their cows regardless of the weather to deliver the milk to the collection truck. This is a means of subsistence. In contrast, in cities and other urban areas, the day usually starts a bit later (around 5:00 or 6:00 a.m.).

Indigenous clothing is beautiful. Does it have a special meaning behind it? For you?

Indigenous clothing holds a deep meaning in the identity of the Kayambi people; it represents a sense of belonging and unity.

For me, it means being able to pass on to the next generation how valuable it is to belong to a minority group, understanding that in our differences there is also richness, and that we can learn to love and accept ourselves for who we are and where we come from. Our clothing is a cultural expression, and women play a key role in preserving it.

The embroidery on our blouses is inspired by the colors and beauty of nature. One practice that has truly stayed in my heart is the care of our hair—tying it with ribbons is a tradition our mothers taught and passed down from generation to generation as a lasting bond.

Our clothing is also a form of cultural resistance. In a context where Indigenous identity has historically been discriminated against, wearing it is a way of affirming that our culture is alive and continues to endure.

Are there things you wish more people understood about the Kichwa and Mestizo culture?

Both Indigenous and mestizo cultures have experienced processes of discrimination, segregation, and devaluation throughout history. Unfortunately, a lack of understanding of our own history often leads us to repeat attitudes that once affected us and felt unjust.

Both Indigenous peoples and mestizo communities have been a fundamental part of this history. Therefore, knowing and valuing our roots can make a difference in how we see ourselves and relate to one another, allowing us to build more just, respectful, and conscious relationships between cultures.

What part of your culture makes you feel most at home?

It makes me feel more at home to be part of my community—when we share in the corn harvest, when I am close to nature, when we laugh together and make jokes that can only be understood within our cultural context, when I see my family wearing our traditional clothing, when I share a meal with my grandmother, and when I take part in a “minga”, which is work together for the benefit of the community or families. All these experiences create in me a deep sense of belonging.

How far is where you grew up from Cayambe?

The distance between Cayambe and Ibarra, the city where I grew up for most of my life, is 54.2 km (about 1 hour and 30 minutes). My life developed in a predominantly mestizo population, and I was the only Indigenous girl in my class at school. In Ibarra, the social dynamics are different; the Indigenous population from rural areas does not interact as closely as it does in Cayambe.

How did you come to the FACE Foundation with the team?

I would like to share a part of my story. When I was 24 years old, God blessed me with the opportunity to join an exchange program in Sweden, thanks to the support of my family and my church in Ibarra. During that year, God gave me a new language (English), allowed me to experience different cultures around the world, and worked in my heart to help me value my identity as an Indigenous Kayambi woman. He healed many wounds I had been carrying, helped me understand how much He loves me, and showed me that He has a purpose for my life.

This experience allowed me to see the world and Christianity from a different perspective. I believe that God prepares you for the task—He heals, restores, and loves you. When I returned, I worked as a traveling translator for FACE, supporting medical outreach teams in Indigenous communities.

I feel that this is my calling from God to serve others, and I have found a place in this organization. I have been part of this ministry since 2020. I first worked as a Community Facilitator, and now I serve in the areas of Spiritual Care and International Relations.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8)

Final thoughts

I love my culture, my roots, and the blessing of having grown up with both my biological family and my family in faith—my brothers and sisters from Bethel Church. I believe that God transcends all cultures and allows us to form a new culture without erasing our roots, but rather strengthening our identity.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

Contextualizing this to our reality, I would say: there is neither Indigenous nor mestizo, for we are one in Christ Jesus. This is the culture we are called to live out in our society—to show God’s love to every person, recognizing each other as people of equal value and striving for justice, righteousness, and fairness in every good path (Proverbs 2:9).