Guambiano


The Guambiano or Misak are an indigenous people of the department of Cauca in Colombia. Their language is known as Guambiano and is one of the Coconucan languages. The majority lives in the western part of the Colombian Andes range. Some Guambiano can also be found in Huila Department.
The Misak society has a patriarchal kinship system, with hereditary offices, descent lines, and property passing through the male line. Agriculture is the base of their economy. Wheat, corn, coffee, onions, garlic, cassava, potatoes, beans, and cabbage are among the main products they cultivate.
The Guambiano people are known for their traditional clothing: blue scarf, rectangular ponchos, and black bowler hat for the men; black skirt, solid color top, blue scarf, and dark bowler hat for the women.

Notable people

  • Bárbara Muelas, language activist and academic
  • Lorenzo Muelas, indigenous activist and politician