The Arhuaco are one of three unique, related Indian tribes who live on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia.
The Arhuaco (also known as the Ika) live on the south side of the
Sierra. Their neighbours the Arsarios (or Malayo or Wiwa) live on the
east, and a third Indian people, the Kogi, live on the north. Together
they total at least 20,000. The ?black line' which defines the Indians'
homeland stretches invisibly around the mountains and incorporates some
hot, lowland areas and a few stretches of seashore. The black line also
links several sacred sites.
How do they live? All three tribes are characterised by a
complex spirituality and distinctive clothes and houses. Their basic
foodstuffs are maize, manioc, plantains, and a variety of fruits. The
Spanish invaders introduced coffee, sugar cane, wheat and some cattle.
Pigs are also kept. The Sierra Indians call themselves ?the older
brothers', and believe that they have a mystical wisdom and
understanding which surpasses that of others. They refer to other
peoples as ?the younger brothers.' Unlike the Kogi and Arsarios,
Arhuaco men wear a conical white hat, which symbolizes the snowy peaks
of the Sierra.
What problems do they face? The Arhuaco have been at the
forefront of the movement for Indian rights in Colombia. In 1982
they expelled Capuchin missionaries, who had had a presence in the
Sierra since 1693. Since the 1980s the lower slopes of the Sierra have
been occupied by colonists growing marijuana and coca for the drug
trade, and the mountain has become a battleground between the army,
left-wing guerrillas and paramilitary armies. Despite the Indians'
peaceful nature, they have frequently been caught in the crossfire, and
many Indians have been killed in the quasi-civil war raging on their
land. In February 2004 an Arsario village was bombarded for several
days by the Colombian army, forcing the inhabitants to flee.
How can I help?
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Write to your local Colombian embassy, click
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How does Survival help? Survival International has supported the
Sierra Indians' land claims since 1974, and conducted numerous
campaigns against the violence and conflict that wrack the Sierra. In
1993 two Arhuaco representatives came to Spain and Britain as guests of
Survival International to raise awareness of the murder of three
important Arhuaco leaders. Survival has also published a colour report
on the Arhuaco, ?Guardians of the Sacred Land', available from the
bookshop. Survival's campaign for their rights continues.
