Ticuna Territory
In the depths of the Colombian Amazon, Ticuna Territory is a space where ancestral heritage faces the pressures of a changing world. This is a community defined by duality: where the rhythm of the jungle coexists with the drive of a new generation seeking professional knowledge, and where the ancient authority of the Pachamama stands alongside the integration of contemporary medicine.
At the heart of this struggle are the Tawemakû arü Geegù (The Women of the Moon). Through their lunar cycles, they maintain a sacred bond with the Earth, using achiote and traditional rites to empower their bodies and preserve their lineage.
For leaders like María Parente, there is no conflict between worlds; staying healthy requires the synergy of both ancestral essence and modern science.
The youth, represented by the "Aborigen" collective, are the new guardians of this shield. By mastering documentary photography and social networks, they turn technology into a tool for environmental and cultural survival. This generation chooses to live within the forest while engaging with the global stage, proving that indigenous wisdom is not a relic of the past, but a blueprint for a sustainable future.
Published on Open Democracy November 18, 2019. English version: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/democraciaabierta/ticuna-women-colombian-amazon-sun-moon-and-mother-earth/
Spanish version: https://www.opendemocracy.net/es/democraciaabierta-es/ticuna-women-colombian-amazon-sun-moon-and-mother-earth-es/
Portuguese version: https://www.opendemocracy.net/pt/mulheres-ticuna-da-amazonia-sol-lua-mae-terra/
This project was selected as a finalist in an international photography competition, recognizing its focus on Indigenous women and ancestral knowledge.
