2. GENTE DE ARENA, SOL Y VIENTO.
(PEOPLE OF LAND SUND AND WIND)
I FEEL SICK AND TIRED!!! About the socio-economic situation of the Wayuu
indigenous. This people inhabit the Guajira peninsula, located in northern
Colombia. The Wayuu people have struggled with the natural adversities of the
Guajira region, land of sun, sand and wind. As well as, facing discrimination, racism,
marginalization and violence from some non-indigenous violence by some of the
region's non-indigenous inhabitants and also from rebel colombian organizations
such as FARCs and ELN.
3. SOME EXAMPLES
• The presence of armed groups in the territory has led to a weakening of their own
economic, social and cultural practices and has weakened the social and political
organization of the people.
• Currently, in the department of La Guajira, the Wayuu community is going through a
humanitarian crisis in which the life and integrity of the people of the community are
at risk due to lack of access to drinking water and malnutrition, especially among
children and adolescents.
• Finally, the exploration and exploitation of natural resources due to the presence of
multinationals in the indigenous territory has generated great environmental damage
to water, land and people.
5. WEAKENING OF THEIR ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND
CULTURAL PRACTICES
Even though their identity and language have been violated, 85.25% of the
population of this colombian department speaks wayuunaiki the official language
of the wayuus. And this is due to their deep rootedness to their traditions and
language which has not been the case for other tribes in Colombia. An excellent
way to strengthen their identity is through community schools run by the
communities themselves. As well as to encourage women's entrepreneurship
through the sale of Wayuu handicrafts in local markets since their crafts are highly
valued in the Caribbean region of Colombia. Only women are specifically
mentioned because in this ethnic group the matriarchy predominates and women
are the decision makers in every aspect of this tribe.
6. LACK OF DRINKING WATER, ENVIROMENTAL
DAMAGED AND MALNUTRITION
• eco friendly programs which develop knowledge among these communities
related to water treatment and irrigation of crops in desert climates for instance,
places such as african subsaharian and the indian state of rajasthan have created
solutions with help of non profit organization (greenpeace or UN) to face
droughts with great results. Moreover, better fishery learning techniques amoung
the communities could help to reduce hunger among the most vulnerable people
(La Guajira is a department surrounded in its entirety by the Caribbean Sea) .
