On Tuesday 29 November 2022, UNESCO inscribed the system of ancestral knowledge of the four indigenous peoples – the Arhuaco, Kankuamo, Kogi and Wiwa – of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

These four peoples regard the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta as the “heart of the world” and seek to preserve the balance between humans and what they refer to as “nature”. Their ancestral system of knowledge defines the “sacred missions” concerning the harmony of the four peoples with the physical and spiritual universe. Many years of effort – around eighteen years – enable the Mamos and the Sagas, the traditional and spiritual authorities, to acquire the sensitivity required to communicate with the earth and the snow-capped peaks, to connect with the wisdom of the rivers, and to decipher the messages of nature.

The UNESCO report states: “Based on the Law of Origins, a philosophy governing the relationships between humans, nature and the universe, this ancestral system of knowledge encompasses the preservation of sacred sites, baptismal rituals, marriage rites, traditional dances and songs, and offerings to spiritual powers.”

“This ancestral wisdom plays a fundamental role in protecting the Sierra Nevada’s ecosystem and preserving the cultural identity of the region’s four peoples. The ancestral system of knowledge is passed down from generation to generation through cultural practice, community activities, the use of the indigenous language and the carrying out of sacred missions. The process of transmission includes an understanding of the physical and spiritual relationships with Mother Nature and the sacred sites”, the report states.

With 35 major rivers and watercourses, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta traditionally acts as a ‘water tower’, essential to the region’s 1.5 million inhabitants. The Sierra was designated a biosphere reserve by the organisation back in 1979.

Sources:
UNESCO, 2022
https://fr.unesco.org/biosphere