Roles and legitimacy of the communal indigenous authorities: landlords, ruwales and relations with the State in Q’ero communities (Cusco, Peru, 1922-2020)

This article analyzes the roles and legitimacy of the communal authorities at the Q’ero hacienda (Paucartambo, Cusco) and the communities emerging therefrom. The colonial state established the hacienda in the XVII century. However, in 1922, its authority structure was more characteristic of communities descending from colonial Councils of Indians (Cabildos de Indios). Based on ethnographic records beginning in 1922 and fieldwork conducted in 2007 and 2008, the article shows how communal indigenous authorities, whose external legitimacy came from the landlord and the state, were essential to organizing hacienda work. As part of their role as mediators between humans and ruwales (places with agency and intentionality), these authorities were responsible for the rainy season festivities. When the hacienda closed in the 1960s, the state recognized these collectives as ‘peasant communities’ and imposed a new authority structure. While these new authorities were in charge of the relations with the state, the communal indigenous authorities continued in their roles. Their legitimacy emerged directly from the community of humans and ruwales and was only weakly tied to the state.