Micah Unzueta is a 2021-2022 undergraduate FLAS fellow studying Quechua.

"I look forward to studying indigeneity at its source; learning Quechua is my approach to better understand indigenous Andean epistemologies and world views. Furthermore, as the most pervasive indigenous language in the Americas, a mastery of Quechua presents the unique opportunity to share intense, first-hand experiences with new people, cultures, and epistemologies.

As a Student Curator of OSU’s Andean & Amazonian Art and Cultural Artifacts Collection, a more nuanced understanding of Quechua will guide my curatorial endeavors while I develop a new workshop. It’s purpose: to facilitate a more profound understanding of Quechua belief systems through a linguistic deconstruction of the language. As an academic, I’m interested in studying indigenous perspectives on systems like ecological sustainability and possession and investigating how these may serve or damage the collective.

After graduation, I plan on pursuing a Fulbright in Peru as an English Teaching Assistant. Abroad, I will continue my Quechua studies and seriously entertain foreign language education as a career path. After Fulbright, I intend on furthering my education in Andean and Amazonian Studies. Ultimately, as I continue to explore my interest in indigenous land rights in Latin America, Quechua is the first of many indigenous languages and cultures I hope to better understand."