• Lumbalú. Foto créditos: Kelis Blanquicet Herrera

    Rituals and Beliefs: Spiritual Life in Palenque beyond Stereotypes

    Photo credits: Kelis Blanquicet Herrera San Basilio de Palenque, located in the Colombian Caribbean, is not only famous for its history of resistance and freedom, but also for its rich and complex spirituality. In an effort to understand this dimension beyond stereotypes, we explore the beliefs, rituals and practices that are integral to life in…

  • Arroyo Palenque

    The Palenque Creek: A Stream of Traditions Emanating Identity

    In the community of Palenque, a natural treasure flows vigorously through the entire territory: the Palenque stream. But this body of water goes beyond its basic function as a water source. For the Palenqueros, the stream is the very soul of their community, shaping not only their physical environment but also their identities, social relations…

  • Meet the First Generation of Awasqa Youth Scholars

    It is with great joy that we want to introduce the first eight young Awasqa Youth Scholarship recipients! The main objective of the Awasqa Youth Scholarship is to create networks across Latin America and to give visibility to the work of Black and indigenous youth who are leading in the fields of community journalism, communication…

  • Colombian Indigenous People Call for Solidarity During Protests Against State Repression and Policies

    FROM THE EDITORS: Colombia is living a historical period of social resistance and struggle against Ivan Duque’s government which began with a national strike on May 1st to oppose tax reform. Street protests have been met with increased violence and so far there are at least 23 dead and 35 people missing, hundreds injured. Although…

  • Colombia: ONIC launches COVID-19 monitoring and humanitarian collective action

    When it comes to resilience, indigenous people in Colombia are truly of admiration as they have been forced to take swift action to protect their people, particularly in times of crisis. Vulnerable communities are living multiple challenges in Colombia around targeted violence, extractive policies, access to food and water, exarcebated now by the coronavirus health…

  • #WasipiSakiri. Foto: RadioIluman

    Decolonizing Health II: Community Efforts in Abya Yala

    Slowly we perceive―like the rising of the river when it comes down from the mountain―that the rain at the top of the summit hasn’t ceded, and that we must prepare for the sudden flow. After the initial storm, like the soft roots that creep between the stones until they are broken, ideas, actions, and the…

  • Oscar Montero. Foto: ONIC

    Times of Life and Death: Building Resilience Through Historical Memory in Colombia

    On November 18 the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC) together with the National Center for Historical Memory (CNMH) released a report on historical memory on structural violence against indigenous peoples, a project that began in 2017. Below we provide a translation from ONIC´s website on the significance of such report in their future struggles…

  • Greta Thunberg and Guardians of the Forest. Photo: @GuardianesBos

    Urgent Climate Action Requires Defending the Defenders: Indigenous Peoples at Risk

    Photo: Greta Thunberg and Guardians of the Forest, @GuardianesBos. As millions of children, youth, and their parents or mentors bravely take the streets around the world (in 150 countries!) this Friday, September 20, to strike for the climate; we at Awasqa have been thinking how it’s usually those who are most at risk who often…