El article explores the uses of colonial law by indigenous people in the last stage of this period of Spanish domination, ranging from borbonic reforms to Independence (1750-1810). The first part, which was the result of a historiographic review, shows how the colonial regime’s initial claim to preserve indigenous legal systems resulted in the creation of a distinct legal regime, separating the ‘Republics of Indians’ from the ‘Republics of Spaniards’; separation which, while not effective in preserving prehispanic legal traditions, allowed various uses of the law as a mechanism for adaptation and resilience. The second part of the text illustrates these uses of law, with some legal actions by indigenous people at the end of the xviii century and the principles of xix in the New Kingdom of Granada.