The Ministry of Culture announced on Mar. 26 that 144 speakers of Aymara, Jaqaru, and Quechua from 16 regions across the country have been preselected to continue in the 27th Course for Interpreters and Translators of Indigenous or Native Languages. The largest representation comes from Lima, Cusco, Cajamarca, and Puno.
This initiative aims to highlight Peru’s linguistic and cultural diversity while ensuring citizens can access public services in their native languages.
According to the Ministry, candidates were evaluated based on their experience in translation and interpretation as well as their work with indigenous communities. In the next stage, participants will undergo either in-person or virtual assessments between April 7 and April 10 to verify their proficiency in both indigenous languages and Spanish. Their ability to translate and interpret in real-life contexts will also be tested.
The course is scheduled to take place from May 4 to May 23 in Cajamarca. Organizers say this marks a milestone by decentralizing interpreter training opportunities for speakers of native languages throughout various regions.
To date, the Ministry of Culture has trained a total of 940 interpreters and translators across 39 out of Peru’s 48 indigenous or native languages. All graduates are included in the National Registry of Interpreters and Translators of Indigenous Languages (ReNITLI), an online platform created to provide linguistically appropriate services for all Peruvians.
