KOE F gra n t p a rtn e r sp otl i ght
Resguardo Indígena Inga San Miguel de la Castellana Above: Inga community leaders and members welcome Bia’ni Madsa’ Juárez López (Ayuuk ja’ay and Binnizá), Keepers of the Earth Fund Program Manager, with traditional music and songs during a field visit.
Nathalie Martinez (CS In te rn )
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n the midst of the humble silence of the forests along the eastern mountain range of Colombia, it’s possible to hear the soft sound of children and young people singing. Though the words may be incomprehensible to most, the lyrics are a gift that represent resilience and honor. Singing in honor of Atun Puncha Day, a celebration that honors the fight for cultural resistance, perseverance, and strength, the children use a gift inherited from their Elders and families— a gift that was nearly lost and has since been revitalized— their language. For the Inga community of Colombia, communication is a power that holds not only their cosmology, history, and way of thinking, but also their identity. “Our language is beautiful,” Edna Viviana Papamija said. “It is the expression of who we are, how we live.” Language endangerment is one of the greatest threats that many Indigenous communities face across the globe. In the face of the pressures of territorial losses, climate change, and globalization, language loss has only become more exacerbated as a result of these external forces. For the Inga, while 100 percent of their community identifies as Indigenous, only 50 percent of the population speaks the Inga language. Language is a cultural resource as valuable as any other natural resource under threat. In the Putumayo of Colombia, the Resguardo Indígena San Miguel de la Castellana has formed an intergenerational collective to combat language loss through the revitalization of their language and cultural traditions. Through the efforts of their community and the support of Cultural Survival’s Keepers of the Earth Fund, the initiative has focused on four mingas de pensamiento (community gatherings of ceremonial exchange). Where “identity lies, history is told, narrated, and lived … the wisdom of the Elders is appreciated,” said Governor Aida Jacanamejoy, who is also known as la madre comunitaria.
The four projects were established through a consensus among youth, linguists, and Elders. Their goal was to make the greatest impact possible in the community as they learned about traditional practices in the Inga language. The first minga focused on the biodiversity of the Ingas’ ancestral lands. Participants learned about the arrangement of the tulpa (central fireplace) and its role in the preparation of native dishes. A variety of meals were prepared, including maitukusaska, a fish that is wrapped in sirindango leaf with natural seasonings and roasted on a charcoal grill. The minga provided students the opportunity to have a combined linguistic and cultural learning experience. Elders shared the significance of consuming natural food sources while teaching the youth participants the properties and characteristics that help one to avoid illnesses and prolong one’s lifespan. The second minga was associated with the commemoration of Atun Puncha Day. Through phrases like ‘kausankamalla’ (as long as you live), participants recognized those who had fought before. Everyone wore crowns of feathers, traditional clothing, and necklaces of beans and natural seeds. The festivities were also joined by instruments like the bombo, rattle, and dulzaina. Meals of meat, yucca, and ají were served to accompany chicha, a traditional beverage made with either plantains, yucca, or chontaduro. United as a family alongside the governor, the Inga language was brought to life through songs and dances honoring nature, the Earth, and the cosmos. The third minga was dedicated to sharing traditional games and songs with younger generations. Those who had the privilege to attend learned from Elder Enrique Jojoa, who told the story of the bodoquera, a weapon similar to a blowgun that was used to defend Inga territory against invaders. As he narrated, he presented one that he had inherited from his father. Dating nearly 150 years, it had remained intact. He talked about the significance of the phases of the moon in dictating how and when to properly cut the materials needed
26 • www. cs. org All photos courtesy of Bia’ni Madsa’ Juárez López.
