When I was younger my mom and grandma gave me a Chakana which is an Inkan cross that comes from Bolivia and Peru. My chakana is a necklace that is made out of the stone from Machu Picchu which is in Peru. The chakana is very important to me because it represents my Inka Indian and Bolivian heritage. The chakana symbolizes good luck in my culture. It connects me to my culture because in the middle of the chakana there is a little circle that represents the Inkan capital Cusco and that’s where my family is from. Chakana is also derived from the word “chakay” which mean to cross/to bridge in the ancient inkan language that is called Quechua, each point on the cross also has a different meaning in Quechua. My mom and grandma gave this to me when we were all in Bolivia in la Isla del Sol.

– Nina Weber

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant