Caracas, September 5, 2024.- On September 5, 1782, Bartolina Sisa, a leader of the Aymara people and the beloved partner in struggle of Túpac Katari, was brutally murdered.

Sisa was born on August 24, 1753, in the Caracato Canton of the Ayllu—now part of La Paz, Bolivia—and died in her hometown.

She was killed after being accused of rebellion and defying the “norms” of the colony. She led the Indigenous uprising and fought against the domination and oppression of the Spanish conquerors. At the age of 25, she began organizing various uprisings against the invading army.

Those uprisings against the colonial regime culminated in the Siege of La Paz. On March 13, 1781, they set up a camp and blocked all access to the city.

Meanwhile, the Spanish army made great efforts to capture this young leader. It is believed that up to 300 soldiers attempted it, but none succeeded. That same year, her husband, Túpac Katari, was proclaimed Viceroy of the Inca, and she was proclaimed Vicereine.

Although she was killed, Bartolina Sisa left behind an unforgettable legacy of struggle. In 1983, the Aymara leader inspired the creation of the International Day of Indigenous Women, which is commemorated every September 5.