| Catalina | |
| Birth Date: | c. 1495 |
| Death Date: | May 11 1538, Cartagena de Indias. |
| Known For: | Translator for Pedro de Heredia during the Spanish conquest of the Chibchan Nations. |
| Occupation: | Translator, interpreter |
| Spouse: | Alonso Montañez |
India Catalina (1495- May 11, 1538) was an indigenous child of Mokaná ethnicity from the Colombian Atlantic coast, who was kidnapped by Pedro de Heredia to be an interpreter and intermediary, playing a role in the Spanish conquest of Colombia.
Catalina, the daughter of a local chief, was abducted in 1509 by Spanish conquistador Diego de Nicuesa from an indigenous settlement known as Zamba o Galerazamba in the department of Bolívar.[1] [2] [3] She was sent to Santo Domingo, where she learned the Spanish language and adopted the Catholic Christian faith, although she was still considered a slave.[4] She served as an interpreter to the Native Americans under Pedro de Heredia during his conquest of Colombia.[5] She was also his concubine for many years,[6] [7] but after she took him to court for stealing gold,[8] [9] it is possible that Pedro had her married to his nephew Alonso Montañez.[10] She died in Cartagena de Indias on May 11, 1538.
The name "india (the indian) Catalina" appeared in a letter sent for Pedro de Heredia to King Carlos V in 1533. Her indigenous name was never mentioned in the documents.
According to the Colombian drama series "La reina de Indias y el conquistador" (The Queen and the Conqueror), her indigenous names are Katalydeyewua and Kaitegua.
The monument to India Catalina was sculpted by Eladio Gil Zambrana and presented to the public in 1974. Small scale replicas are used in the Cartagena Film Festival awards.[11]