The role of indigenous interpreters in the Peruvian intercultural, bilingual justice system

Abstract

Since 2012, the Peruvian State, through its Ministry of Culture, has been training indigenous translators and interpreters. Their remit is to facilitate communication between the indigenous population of the country and its institutions, against a socio-political background of historical marginalization of, and discrimination against, indigenous peoples, their languages and cultures. This paper is based on research and fieldwork conducted by the authors in Peru between October 2014 and June 2016. It will focus specifically on the role that the indigenous interpreters play in guaranteeing access to justice for speakers of minoritized languages. Relevant contextual information about Peru will be provided, including the legal framework for the provision of interpreting services between Spanish and indigenous languages. The paper will further describe the training program put in place by the State, before critically addressing the challenges that practitioners and institutions face. We will also report on ad hoc interpreting initiatives that are beginning to emerge in the country, beyond the remit of the State training programs, and will conclude with some general observations derived from our research.