Day of Interculturality and Plurinationality - October 12th

In Saquisilí, province of Cotopaxi, the two women are wearing traditional clothing typical for the area.

For decades Latin Americans have commemorated October 12th as the Day of the Race.

This is a date when the discovery of America by the Genoese Christopher Columbus is remembered as Columbus Day.

Group of indigenous people in Latacunga, the Capital of province of Cotopaxi. Latacunga is known for their yearly Mama Negra carnival.

The date was originally a celebration of the mix of the races that came with the arrival of Europeans, especially from Spain. 

For years it has meant a classification of human beings into races based on the skin tone, hair or skull shapes, and a series of racial bias.

A fisherman in Puerto Lopez, a fisher town in the province of Manabí. The town is famous for the whalewatching trips and very popular among local and international tourists.

On 2011 Ecuador declared October 12th as the "Day of Interculturality and Plurinationality" to correct the significance of this date that historically commemorated the discovery of America in 1492.

 In its considerations, the text by Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa, notes that in Ecuador "various nationalities coexist" Indigenous people "are entitled to support and maintain their own institutions."

A candidate for Kichwa Beauty Queen contest held annualy during Tena's festivities. Tena is the capital of Napo province in the Amazonic part of Ecuador. 

He also argues that the structures of the country "are still grounded on colonial criteria."

For this reason, this date is decreed as "Day of Interculturality and Plurinationality, designed to recognize and rectify the true meaning of the event of October 12, to promote dialogue between different cultures and knowledge, strengthen national unity in diversity inclusive of building the new state of peace and justice, "the statement said.

Local people at their barrio's (neighbourhood's) minga (voluntary communitary work) in Northwestern Quito. Quito is the capital of Ecuador.

Similarly the government urges the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) to "update a true universal calendar intercultural nature with the help of all nationalities and aborigines.

In several Latin American countries the name of the celebration of October 12 has been changed.

Indigenous people resting during a political meating held in front of Quito's San Francisco Cathedral in the Colonial part of the city.

In 2001, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez declared October 12 as the "Day of Indigenous Resistance" noting that on that date began the "genocide" of native peoples of America.

Chile has called it the 'Day of Discovery of Two Worlds'; Costa Rica calls it the, 'Cultures Day'; and in Peru October 12th is called the 'Day of Indigenous Peoples and Intercultural Dialogue'. 

An Afro-Educadorian student in class wearing her school uniform.

In Bolivia, President Evo Morales called it the 'Day of Mourning' because of the poverty, disease and hunger that the European invasion of America brought.

But later on he established it as the 'Day of Indigenous Resistance'.

Indigenous girls in Tena wearing the traditional pacha dress and face painting.

In Argentina October 12th is called the 'Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity', while in Spain it is called 'Columbus Day' like in the States.

The change of the name in Ecuador seeks the restitution of values of indigenous nations and their members.

A way of peaceful coexistence.

High School students perform a traditional Afro-Ecuadorian dance from the Valle de Chota area during a festivity.