The Ukuku

Ukuku's collecting ice from the glacier above Ccollyriti

The Ukuku is an Andean myth - part bear and part man it is a symbol of strength and wisdom. The Ukuku is best known for the part he plays in the Ccollyriti pilgrimage every May in Cusco. The Ukuku is charged with entertaining the pilgrims (they speak with a squeaky voice for no obvious reason), provide support to pilgrims who take ill during the festival and to punish those who act out of turn (drinking alcohol, impropriety, etc).

In modern times the Andean people are forgetting their roots (as is everyone the world over). One overriding culture is coming to dominate all others, traditions and identities are dying and in their place comes an empty consumerism, an obsession with the baser side of life.

I want the Ukuku to be a place for discourse, somewhere we can see what happens in the world and not turn a blind eye to it all. I find the magnitude of the world's problems to be too much, I know there are others out there who feel the same but it is not done to talk about this nagging feeling we have. Individually we feel we are impotent, however together our strength is beyond realisation.

Change always comes from a tiny seed. An idea planted can grow and spread, we just need the courage to start planting new seeds.