TERRɅ INITIɅTIVE and the Elder Mamus of the Arhuaco People

The Mamus enforce and guide the mandate of the spiritual fathers and mothers of the indigenous communities of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. They are an essential part of the indigenous system of ancestral authority and self-government. All actions of daily life are inspired and contemplated in the Law of Origin, which guarantees the harmony of life.
The Law of Origin of the indigenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta guides the way to achieve the balance between the positive and the negative, and how to manage these forces. The Mamus carry their activities in Kankurwas, sacred ceremonial spaces.
As the highest spiritual authorities of the Arhuaco, the Elder Mamus of the original government spaces of Seykumuke and Numa’ka are the repositories of the ancestral knowledge, memory, and the Law of Origin. Through spiritual consultation, they guide the actions of their people. They also say what should be done and what should not be done in the ancestral and sacred territory of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
In this video, the two Elder Mamus of Seykumuke and Numa'ka, together with the Mamu of Jimain, share their views on the Sierra Nevada, their people, and TERRɅ INITIɅTIVE.
The TERRɅ INITIɅTIVE is a utility-scale solar project in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains that has been created in partnership with the Arhuaco people, designed to support the preservation and reforestation of land while promoting the indigenous culture.
To learn more about the Arhuaco people visit bit.ly/3Q8AGWE
NOTE | The translation from Iku to Spanish has been performed by Arhuaco Authorities, while the text adaptation for greater understanding and translation into English was performed by Greenwood Energy.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: bit.ly/3A8oeAE