He was born in El Borbollón, Cauca, son of Mariano Lame, of Paez origin, and Dolores Chantre, of mixed indigenous origins.

His brother Feliciano was killed in the Thousand Days' War.

In 1914, he tried to establish the Republic of Indigenas, formed by Cauca, Tolima, Huila and Valle.

In 1921, after spending three years in jail, he joined the Tolima movement.

In 1924, he wrote the book El pensamiento del indio que se educó en las selvas colombianas.