In general, indigenous peoples in Ecuador suffer from economic deprivation, but are well-endowed in social capital (for example, social organization, family cohesiveness, and shared cultural values). Extremely well- organized at the grassroots, regional, and national levels along the lines of political, labor, or religious affiliation, they contribute to a vibrant social process that is contributing to the revitalization of the indigenous identity.

Organizations along ethnic lines were recognized during the Inca Empire. The Conquistadors tried to dismantle and destroy these organizations, and during colonial times community-based organizations were used by the Spaniards to wring taxes and labor from the indigenous population. However, these organizations stubbornly persisted, and in the period following Ecuador's independence they were known as "parcialidades indígenas."