Brothers' Alert Issued

In the lush and majestic Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range in northern Colombia, the Arhuaco, Kogi, Wiwa, and Kankuamo peoples are a beacon of hope for those seeking answers to environmental issues. For decades, these communities have allowed periodic documentation of their home, lives, and rituals of conservation, providing valuable insights into a sustainable way of life.

One such photographer, Gobinder Jhitta, has dedicated his work to documenting the Arhuaco and Kogi indigenous communities. His photography collection, "Zaku," created in 2011, captures the earnestness with which these communities perform their role of protecting the environment.

The Arhuaco people are easily recognizable by their conical white hats, inspired by the form of their most sacred mountain, whose name is known only to them. The Kogi, Wiwa, and Kankuamo peoples share similar beliefs, referring to themselves as the Elder Brothers and to the rest of the world as the Younger Brothers. They believe they sprang from "the heart of the world" during the creation of the Earth.

The Elder Brothers view themselves as the Earth's caretakers and believe in ensuring balance between humanity and nature. Calixto Suarez Villafania, an Arhuaco leader, urged people to work together to prevent the change of the Earth. Villafania's message calls for people to listen to the words of the Arhuaco and Kogi communities, emphasizing the shared responsibility of all individuals, regardless of gender or culture, in preserving the Earth.

Villafania encouraged mindfulness of habits and the need for change, emphasizing that it's time for humans to change, not the Earth. He warned that if current practices continue, the Earth's reaction will become stronger. Small actions, such as reducing meat consumption, can make a significant difference, according to Villafania.

Photographer Gobinder Jhitta was granted permission to visit and document the Arhuaco and Kogi communities. His work focuses on the special bond between these indigenous peoples and nature. The resulting body of work, titled Zaku, translates to "spirit of the mother."

The Arhuaco people refer to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range as "the heart of the world." These communities, under pressure to carry out their sacred duty due to the damage caused to the world by the Younger Brothers, recognize the need for spreading their message of environmental conservation.

As we move forward, the wisdom and practices of these indigenous communities offer a guiding light for a more sustainable future. Their resilience and dedication serve as a reminder of the importance of our shared responsibility to protect and preserve our planet.