“We traveled to Guatapurí, “pure waters”, a town at the base of the Sierra where Indigenous families live alongside settlers. The river there moves with power and presence, carrying a deep sense of connection between land, water and spirit.

From there, we walked for hours into the mountains, eventually reaching a small Wiwa village. Along the way, I witnessed parts of the land stripped bare; forests cleared, ecosystems disrupted. When I asked what had happened, Rosa explained:

“Colonos come, cut the trees, bring cattle and take everything for money.”

She then shared something even more urgent. The path we were walking, an ancient route connecting sacred sites, is now at risk of being sold. This land is part of a sacred network, forming what they understand as the womb of the Mother. If purchased by outside interests, access will be blocked, travel will be extended by many hours and the land itself will likely be destroyed.”

This path is not simply a trail.
It is a lifeline.

It connects communities to nearby towns where they trade goods, gather essential supplies and maintain relationships beyond the mountain. Without it, what is already a demanding journey becomes nearly unsustainable.

At the same time, surrounding lands are being rapidly altered by outside development. Forests that have long been cared for in balance are being fragmented. With each piece of land lost, both ecological integrity and cultural continuity are threatened.

The Kogui, Wiwa, Arhuaco and Kankuamo communities are seeking to purchase this critical stretch of land—not for ownership in a conventional sense, but to protect, steward and preserve it for future generations.