Embera en Choco

Typical house of the Embera indigenous people in the Department of Choco in north-western Colombia. Colombia has over 100 indigenous groups, many of which are struggling to retain their traditional culture on territory that was legally designated to them. So, while Colombia’s Constitution recognises the rights of ethnic minorities like the Embera indigenous group, mining companies and armed groups often disregard them putting their culture and traditions are at risk.

Typical house of the Embera indigenous people.

Typical house of the Embera indigenous people.

Household of an Embera family in Alto Guayabal, Choco in north-western Colombia.

Iginia is an Embera woman from Alto Guayabal, Bajo Atrato region, Colombia. When the mining company came to their land to dig out gold, it was the women who with support from our partner the Inter-Church Commission for Justice and Peace faced the Army in order to oppose mining at their sacred hill. Their very existence is threatened by these mega-projects. Iginia wrote a song, as a way to document the events but also as a tribute to the Hill. The community believes that mining here will allow the release of the spirits, both good and evil that inhabit the land, which according to them will severely affect the surrounding communities.

Jaiquierma along with other Embera women led a march to protect their sacred hill. They faced the Army and were determined not to allow mining in their territory. In 2009, mining companies came to the Careperro hill to exploit gold and metals. Support from our partner the Inter-Church Commission for Justice and Peace allowed Jaiquierma, and other 1,200 Embera people to protest and get the mining companies out of their land. “If they had killed us we would have died defending our rights. We had to die to protect our land.”

Embera indigenous community gathering in Alto Guayabal, Colombia. The Emberas have been displaced a number of times and just a year after their return in 2009, a mining company came to their land. For the first time in Colombia, the Embera’s conducted an opinion poll to find out if the community agreed about mining in their land. The community reached a consensus against mining. With support from our partner CIJP denounced the company for entering their land illegally and without properly consulting the community.

Embera indigenous community members of Alto Guayabal, Choco, Colombia.