UJ #14 - Qhapac Ñan

THE ROAD OF ALL OF US
Since it has the category of a ‘cultural route’, the
relevance of the Qhapaq Ñan goes far beyond
the monumental character of its construction.
The traditions and heritage of the communities
located near the road, and the relation they have
with it and with their ancestors give continuity and
a more humane sense to the heritage.
The work with the populations is one of the
strengths of the people entrusted with the
management, preservation and research of the
road system. After all, as it has been built with a
utilitarian purpose, the essence of Qhapaq Ñan is
to be at the service of the people, facilitating their
communication and daily work.
“The greatest richness of our intangible heritage
lies in the route of the Qhapaq Ñan, in the people it
interconnects,” assured Rodrigo Ruiz, coordinator
of the Community Involvement area of the Qhapaq
Ñan Project’s National Office. Establishing a good
relationship with the residents of the areas along
the route is essential for its preservation.
Residents of Soledad de Tambo (Ancash) on
their way to performing road cleaning tasks.
Qhapaq Ñan Project’s National Office
TEAMWORK
Nearly 50% of the 60,000 km of the Qhapaq Ñan
is located in Peru. 250 km have been granted
the category of World Heritage together with 82
archaeological sites. How can we protect such a
broad asset that spans the entire country? This is
where the role of the communities becomes vitally
important, as they have become the right hand of
government entities.
To work with the population it is necessary to
build the trust. The objective of the Community
Involvement area is to establish a commitment
for performing joint work with the people who
live in the areas crossed by Inca roads through
64
Regional treks enhance the Qhapaq Ñan
for the new generations.