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Colombia’s Arhuacos strive for harmony with Mother Nature

An Arhuaco Indigenous woman carries her baby in Nabusimake on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. The life of the Arhuacos is closely tied to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Their white garments represent snow and their conical hats represent the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Juana, a 65-year old Arauco Indigenous woman, teaches weaving to her daughters in Nabusimake, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. The knowledge that the Arhuacos and the three other Indigenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the Koguis, Wiwas y Kankuamos, has been declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Arhuaco Indigenous youth Irene, 16, helps with the family sheep in Nabusimake on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. The knowledge that the Arhuacos and the three other Indegenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the Koguis, Wiwas y Kankuamos, has been declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Arhuaco Indigenous women wash clothes at a creek in Nabusimake on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. The life of the Arhuacos is closely tied to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Their white garments represent snow and their conical hats represent the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Lucia, a 44-year Arhuaco Indigenous woman, gets dressed at her home in Nabusimake on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. Lucia works in Nabusimake as a nurse auxiliary. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

The Torres Izquierdo, an Arhuaco Indigenous family, gathers at their home in Nabusimake on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. Not all in the Torres Izquierdo family speaks Spanish, but all speak Iku, their own native Arhuaco language. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Mariano, a 30-year-old Arhuaco Indigenous man, sits by the fire at his home in Nabusimake on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. Mariano is a “Mamo” or spiritual leader that keeps his people´s ancient knowledge. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

An Arhuaco Indigenous man holds a poporo as he chews coca leaves in Nabusimake on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023. A poporo carries small amounts of lime produced from burnt and crushed sea-shells, it includes a wooden pin that is used to carry the lime inside the poporo to the mouth while chewing coca leaves. The lime will release the alkaloids in coca leaf. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Arhuaco Indigenous men gather in Nabusimake on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. The knowledge that the Arhuacos and the three other Indigenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the Koguis, Wiwas y Kankuamos, has been declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Arhuaco Indigenous sisters, Irene, left, Lucia, center, and Alba, pose for a photo near their home in Nabusimake on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. Lucia works in Nabusimake as a nurse auxiliary and her two 16-year-old sisters attend school, and when not in school they help with the family´s sheep. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

View of the Arhuaco village of Nabusimake in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. Nabusimake is considered the Capital of the Arhuacos. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Arhauco Indigenous girls sit by a ravine in Nabusimake on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. The Arhuaco are an Indigenous people of Colombia, descendants of the Tairona culture, concentrated in northern Colombia in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

An Arhuaco Indigenous woman weaves a bag in Nabusimake on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. The life of the Arhuacos is closely tied to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Their white garments represent snow and the men´s conical hats represent the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Salvador, an Arhuaco Indigenous man, plays the accordion in Nabusimake on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. The knowledge that the Arhuacos and the three other Indigenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the Koguis, Wiwas y Kankuamos, has been declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Sebastian, an Arhuaco Indigenous man, ties cargo to his mules in Nabusimake on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. To be allowed to climb the Sierra Nevada into Arhuaco lands it is necessary to obtain a permit from them and to submit to their laws. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Ceferino, 91, an Arhuaco Indigenous man sits in front of his house in Nabusimake on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. Arhuacos have managed to keep their own religious beliefs and traditions, even after Capuchin missionaries attempted to evangelized them in the XX century, and even after guerrillas and drug smugglers operated in their lands. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Arhuaco Indigenous men gather and chew coca leaves in Nabusimake on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. For he Arhuaco people the coca plant, which they call Ayu, is sacred. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Arhuaco Indigenous siblings, twins Irene, left, Alba, 16, and Sebastian, 30, center, sit in front of their home in Nabusimake on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. The twins attend school and during their off time they help with the family´s sheep. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Colombia’s Arhuacos strive for harmony with Mother Nature