By Daniel Salvador Chindoy Muchavisoy (CS Intern)
The Kamëntšá Indigenous community in the municipality of San Francisco, in southern Colombia, in the department of Putumayo, stands out as a pillar in the defense and promotion of nature and territory—understood as the home and sacred place of their ancestors and every living being that inhabits it. Since time immemorial, they have shown great resilience in overcoming numerous challenges, most recently attacks by multinational companies extracting minerals and other precious resources. Added to this is the threat of the construction of “development projects”, including roads that cut through and threaten sustainable sources of life. However, thanks to the fraternal efforts of the community, this sacred territory has been safeguarded through the preservation of local identity and, above all, the strengthening of the diversity of cultural expressions within this millenary community.
In 2024, Cultural Survival supported a group of young people from this Indigenous community called "Semilleros de Culturas (Seeds of Cultures)" through its Indigenous Youth Fellowship Program. The group is dedicated to the care and promotion of Kamëntšá heritage. Its mission is to improve and strengthen Indigenous communities' capacity to address the challenges of climate change and strengthen environmental protection.
Neider Farid Morales Vanegas and Karen Yamile Jamioy (Kamëntšá) from Colombia
These two young Indigenous leaders from the Kamëntšá Indigenous community are now 28 years old. They are apprentices of their traditions, native language, cosmovision, and defenders of their Indigenous territory in San Francisco, Putumayo, Colombia. For the past four years, they have worked tirelessly to preserve their culture and traditions, leading various processes and projects that promote respect and appreciation for the Kamëntšá ancestral heritage, and inspiring new generations to be guardians of this rich cultural heritage. Motivated to work for the community's future and strengthen the Kamëntšá cultural identity, they have carried out various activities, including cultural workshops for children and young people, as well as discussions on ancestral medicine and environmental protection.
Thanks to the opportunity provided by Cultural Survival through the Indigenous Youth Fellowship and the implementation of their proposal entitled "Indigenous Communities: Guardians of Nature," they were able to make a significant impact within their community. This project established key connections and intergenerational dialogues involving young people, children, families, Indigenous authorities, spiritual guides, and farmers. Through workshops, spiritual harmonisation, ancestral medicine, guided tours, conversations, and knowledge exchanges, the Kamëntšá cultural identity and environmental protection were revitalised. This initiative is an act of cultural resistance and a commitment to the continuity of community life in balance with its environment.
Their aspirations are for a future in which Kamëntšá culture is strong and vibrant, and new generations feel proud of their identity. In this way, they promote the recovery of ancestral practices that intertwine identity, territory, and sustainability. As Karen puts it, "We must act together, as one body and heart, to protect what is ours. Because protecting our land is not only a responsibility but an act of love towards ourselves and those who are not yet born."
These Indigenous youth are examples of transformation and commitment to the Kamëntšá culture through their work, inspiring others to work together to strengthen capacities. They seek to empower an entire community with the tools and knowledge necessary to mitigate the effects of climate change and preserve the natural environment; a commitment that reflects the Kabëng Kamëntšá way of thinking—valuing and respecting harmony with nature and taking responsibility for caring for it for future generations. In a final report of their project, the fellows wrote: "By caring for the earth, we are caring for ourselves, and in every plant, in every seed we sow, there is the promise of a healthier, fairer future that is more ours."
In a territory traversed by valleys, mountains, countless streams, and a unique and magical biodiversity that requires conservation and protection, the leadership of these young people is the voice, strength, and action of the younger generations, who represent the resonance of the future and the guarantee of future generations. In this sense, the active participation of young people, in collaboration with their elders and the community at large, fosters empowerment and a sense of belonging among themselves and others, in the face of the various complexities that affect well-being, peace, and harmony in every facet of life, both individually as in interaction with others and with the only home we have to live in, which must be defended at all costs.
