León de Santiago, Pedro (1746-1800)

Pedro León de Santiago (1746 or 1747-1800) is a Spanish Franciscan by origin who, in 1777, embarked for South America from Victoria (Cantabria). Upon his arrival in America, as a missionary of the Colegio Franciscano de Tarija, he was responsible for the evangelization of the Chiriguano indigenous people of the Western Chaco. During his stay, he contributed greatly to the knowledge of the ethnography and linguistics of the Chiriguano and wrote a dictionary and notes on their beliefs, language and physiognomy. His work is an essential documentary source for the study of Chiriguano ethnography, language and history.

Keywords: Linguistics | Amateur ethnographer | Christian missions | Missionary | Colonialism | Bolivia | Chaco | Chiriguano