Representatives of indigenous Kogi, Wiwa, Arhuaco and Kankuamo in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia starting today (September 6, 2006) in Washington a visit to spread a message of warning about the needs of ecosystem and call for international support to establish a Territorial Building Fund which serves to restore universal balance. This proposal, built within the indigenous organizations of the Sierra and under the direct leadership of mamos and spiritual leaders, has been supported by the Inter-American Development Bank and United Nations Program for Development agencies that facilitated the visit to United States.
Today Wednesday, September 6 from 2:00 pm will be the forum "A message from the heart of the world" in the auditorium Enrique V. Churches of the IDB in Washington. There will meet IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno, the Director of the Sustainable Development Department of the IDB, Antonio Vives, the UNDP Resident Representative in Colombia, Bruno Moro, and indigenous representatives of the Sierra : mamas Gabriel Villafañe Izquierdo (Arhuaco) and Jacinto Zaragata (Kogi), who do not speak English; Arregocés Conchacala Zaragata (Kogi), Jose Gabriel Limaco Dindula (Kogi), Julio Alberto Torres (Governor of the Cabildo, Arhuaco) and Danilo Arweimaku Villafaña (Arhuaco).
The Forum will be followed by an exhibition and a reception at the IDB headquarters.
Additionally, indigenous representatives will meet in Washington with personalities from the business world and American politics, as well as experts and students in the American Indian Museum, Georgetown University and the Museum of Natural History.
Additionally, indigenous representatives will meet in Washington with personalities from the business world and American politics, as well as experts and students in the American Indian Museum, Georgetown University and the Museum of Natural History. On Friday the New York travel to the United Nations headquarters where they will have a meeting with Jan Eliasson, President of the 60th session General Assembly.
This historic visit, which for some of the delegates for their indigenous peoples is the first trip outside its territory, has great significance: first the message from the people Kogi, Wiwa, Arhuaco and Kankuamo leave Colombia to explain why the inhabitants of the "heart of the world," the Sierra Nevada is crucial, "sanitize" these territories as a necessary step to protect the planet from the balance of the universe. To that end, we have proposed setting up a fund for the consolidation of land, enabling them to acquire traditional lands and sacred sites that they consider vital to their life project and the universal balance:
"Since time immemorial, the sacred territory of the Sierra Nevada has been the foundation of our culture. It contains the laws and symbols that define our way of thinking and our identity.
This historic visit, which for some of the delegates for their indigenous peoples is the first trip outside its territory, has great significance: first the message from the people Kogi, Wiwa, Arhuaco and Kankuamo leave Colombia to explain why the inhabitants of the "heart of the world," the Sierra Nevada is crucial, "sanitize" these territories as a necessary step to protect the planet from the balance of the universe. To that end, we have proposed setting up a fund for the consolidation of land, enabling them to acquire traditional lands and sacred sites that they consider vital to their life project and the universal balance:
"Since time immemorial, the sacred territory of the Sierra Nevada has been the foundation of our culture. It contains the laws and symbols that define our way of thinking and our identity. Everyone should follow these rules and laws to safeguard the universe. The territory must be sustained through daily activities that allow the reproduction of culture and all its components.
In this sense, the concept of traditional owners of the land is based on the knowledge of all that lives in the territory, in other words, nature shows how to live in harmony. It is an open book where we learn their stories and their past, and this is what they will learn our children and future generations.
knowledge depends on the careful study of each meaning of the earth and allows us to recall the role of our ancestors and the true meaning of each individual and their mission, not as Indians but as human beings responsible for caring for the planet is threatened when it leaves the sense of responsibility. "
These indigenous people have set themselves the objective of recovering additional 338.000 hectares of their traditional territory in a period of 20 years.
Currently, the Sierra is home to approximately 220,000 non-indigenous population. The loss of their ancestral lands, the usurpation of areas whose title currently belongs to them, the advance of the agricultural frontier, illegal crops and armed conflict in Colombia have contributed to the destruction of 72 percent of original forest area, the reduction of rivers and streams, loss of biodiversity and soil erosion.
These indigenous people have set themselves the objective of recovering additional 338.000 hectares of their traditional territory in a period of 20 years. Currently, the Sierra is home to approximately 220,000 non-indigenous population. The loss of their ancestral lands, the usurpation of areas whose title currently belongs to them, the advance of the agricultural frontier, illegal crops and armed conflict in Colombia have contributed to the destruction of 72 percent of original forest area, the reduction of rivers and streams, loss of biodiversity and soil erosion.
These factors threaten the future of this country and its people and threaten water resources they depend on 1.5 million people and the agribusiness and tourism in the region.
Despite considerable progress in recent decades to create reserves to safeguard the land rights of indigenous groups, only one third of their ancestral territory (6 million hectares) have legal protection.
Land that to date have been legally returned to the indigenous peoples have experienced a significant environmental renewal which has improved the living conditions of indigenous people.
Land that to date have been legally returned to the indigenous peoples have experienced a significant environmental renewal which has improved the living conditions of indigenous people. Of the territory acquired by legalization and expansion, 70 percent is devoted exclusively to natural regeneration and conservation ecosystem.
The message that representatives of the Kogi, Wiwa, Arawak and Kankuamo lead the United States and explains: "Our strategy for territorial recovery has not only to maintain our culture and the strengthening of tradition but which has allowed natural regeneration of ecosystems and the maintenance of water sources that have benefited the development of our western neighbors.
The message that representatives of the Kogi, Wiwa, Arawak and Kankuamo lead the United States and explains: "Our strategy for territorial recovery has not only to maintain our culture and the strengthening of tradition but which has allowed natural regeneration of ecosystems and the maintenance of water sources that have benefited the development of our western neighbors.
In the lowland areas surrounding the Sierra Nevada, live near two million people, whose lives and economy depend on the waters of the rivers. " This process has been essential to shaping in 1999 the Territorial Council of Indigenous Councils of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, which facilitates dialogue with the state and society regarding the management of traditional lands. According to the mythology of the peoples of the Sierra, the rise of the world also appeared on Kagga (Kogi), the Wintukwas (Arhuaco), the Wiwa (Sanka) and Kakatukwa (Kankwamo), each one at each end of the four cardinal points. In Gonawindua emerged as central axis and center in the world. It is to them of four brothers whose mission is to balance the universe.
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