Book for Learning and Conserving the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta through the Narratives of the Kogui Culture: Rivers, Thoughts, and Words that Unite Us
This book is a compilation of stories and words originating from the Kogui people of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, focusing on the significant importance of water, rivers, and other natural and cultural elements that shape the basins of the Frío, Sevilla, and Tucurinca rivers in the Magdalena department. It originated from the connection between the Kogui people and the Water Stewardship Platform.
It was created in both languages, Koguián and Spanish, with the purpose of preserving the cultural richness of the Kogui and, simultaneously, delving into the understanding of the meanings and values of the natural world in relation to the spirituality and worldview of this community.
This material brings together ten captivating stories, more than fifty words, including vowels, consonants, numbers, and basic greetings. Its main goal is to become a valuable tool for teaching in the schools of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, promoting the appropriation and learning of both languages.
Its creation involved visits to four communities, where the mamos (spiritual leaders) and wise individuals shared their stories. The meanings of the words were obtained through individual and group interviews with women and children from the communities. The transcription in Koguián and its subsequent translation into Spanish were carried out by interpreters from the tribe and validated by administrative and spiritual authorities. This process led us to find common ground and unite our worldviews to walk together towards a shared horizon of care and protection of the rivers.
We are convinced that this booklet will be a valuable contribution to the environmental and cultural education and conservation of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It has allowed us to discover that there are many elements that unite us, and we know that together we can make progress towards the protection of water.
