Indira Huapaya

Peruvian linguist preserving Amazonian languages through digital archives

Indira Huapaya is a Peruvian linguist and anthropologist dedicated to preserving endangered Amazonian languages. Born in 1988 among the Shipibo-Conibo indigenous community, she witnessed the rapid decline of native languages in her region. In 2015 she founded Yuyayape Institute, creating the first digital archive for Amazonian languages which now contains over 10,000 audio recordings and 2,500 hours of linguistic data.

Her most significant achievement was the UNESCO Amazon Languages Initiative (2017-2019), a collaborative project with 12 indigenous communities to develop mobile apps for language learning. The apps, available on Google Play, have reached 150,000+ users and revived usage of critically endangered languages like Yine and Asháninka.

Huapaya's work combines cutting-edge technology with traditional knowledge, creating sustainable preservation methods. She was awarded the Lannan Cultural Freedom Prize in 2018 and her research is cited in UNESCO's 2020 report on language preservation. Her efforts demonstrate how technology can empower indigenous communities to maintain cultural heritage in the digital age.