Help Us Protect Indigenous Land & People
Donation protected
What if your lands had been stolen, deforested, water supplies held ransom, and your entire way of life and belief system threatened? An indigenous group to Colombia, the Arhuacos, are living this atrocious circumstance with the loss of access to the water source that serves one of their entire villages, threatening not only their crops and food production, but also the lives of their people. Not only have they lost their water access, but for generations the chiefs and their ancestors have passed down the overarching mission to protect this sacred territory above all else.
At the behest of the village elders, we are fundraising in an attempt to help them buy 66.71 acres of one of the world’s most bio diverse areas of land in the mountainous region of La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia where their village of Gunchukwa is located. This swath of land includes a water source which would allow the survival of their community. Studies show that in most rural areas without a direct water source, the burden of collection most often falls on women and young girls, disallowing them equal opportunities for community involvement and education. Additionally, communities which require hauled and stored water are more susceptible to bacteria related illness from contaminated water. The indigenous groups of the world are rapidly disappearing, yet as an enormous wealth of generational knowledge, they are a pertinent key to all of our survival. We all have an urgent and immediate responsibility to protect and listen to indigenous people around the world and we hope to do our small part by purchasing this new land and water source adjacent to their homes. In making a contribution, you too can not only protect the livelihood of this village and its people, but also allow the opportunity to reforest the area and protect one more piece of the ecosystem they rely on. The Arhuaco's land has continuously been plagued with privatized farming, logging and mining emphasized by the disastrous consequences that are inherent to these industries. In order to combat this, the Arhuacos have made it their main priority to protect and restore the lands that have been taken from them. In years past, each instance where they have had the opportunity to reclaim their land, they have consistently and unequivocally reforested the areas, protecting them and returning them to the sacred land preserves they once were.
The land will be purchased and owned by The Association of Authorities Indigenous (ASOCIT), a non-profit which is run by Arhuaco Mamos (Chiefs). All GoFundMe funds will be transferred to ASOCIT on the strict condition of this land purchase.
The UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs has stated that “The biggest challenge faced by indigenous peoples and communities in relation to sustainable development is to ensure territorial security, legal recognition of ownership and control over customary land and resources, and the sustainable utilization of lands and other renewable resources for the cultural, economic and physical health and well-being of indigenous peoples.”
Indigenous communities are some of the most vulnerable in the world, disproportionately affected by climate change, globalization, and natural resource extraction. We have put together these efforts to support the village of Gunchukwa and offset the unfair and detrimental effects of privatization of stolen land that they have lived and relied on for thousands of years. By combining our respective groups' resources and the help of donations, we hope to answer their call for assistance. The goal amount we are raising is only what is needed to cover the cost to secure their land and water source, so any donation amount made will go directly towards this goal.
Du’deh Films has created a short film titled Call of the Heart which highlights this Arhuaco village and the unthinkable effects of the encroachment of factory pollution on their homes. If you have not already seen this film you can view it on Nowness
At the behest of the village elders, we are fundraising in an attempt to help them buy 66.71 acres of one of the world’s most bio diverse areas of land in the mountainous region of La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia where their village of Gunchukwa is located. This swath of land includes a water source which would allow the survival of their community. Studies show that in most rural areas without a direct water source, the burden of collection most often falls on women and young girls, disallowing them equal opportunities for community involvement and education. Additionally, communities which require hauled and stored water are more susceptible to bacteria related illness from contaminated water. The indigenous groups of the world are rapidly disappearing, yet as an enormous wealth of generational knowledge, they are a pertinent key to all of our survival. We all have an urgent and immediate responsibility to protect and listen to indigenous people around the world and we hope to do our small part by purchasing this new land and water source adjacent to their homes. In making a contribution, you too can not only protect the livelihood of this village and its people, but also allow the opportunity to reforest the area and protect one more piece of the ecosystem they rely on. The Arhuaco's land has continuously been plagued with privatized farming, logging and mining emphasized by the disastrous consequences that are inherent to these industries. In order to combat this, the Arhuacos have made it their main priority to protect and restore the lands that have been taken from them. In years past, each instance where they have had the opportunity to reclaim their land, they have consistently and unequivocally reforested the areas, protecting them and returning them to the sacred land preserves they once were.
The land will be purchased and owned by The Association of Authorities Indigenous (ASOCIT), a non-profit which is run by Arhuaco Mamos (Chiefs). All GoFundMe funds will be transferred to ASOCIT on the strict condition of this land purchase.
The UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs has stated that “The biggest challenge faced by indigenous peoples and communities in relation to sustainable development is to ensure territorial security, legal recognition of ownership and control over customary land and resources, and the sustainable utilization of lands and other renewable resources for the cultural, economic and physical health and well-being of indigenous peoples.”
Indigenous communities are some of the most vulnerable in the world, disproportionately affected by climate change, globalization, and natural resource extraction. We have put together these efforts to support the village of Gunchukwa and offset the unfair and detrimental effects of privatization of stolen land that they have lived and relied on for thousands of years. By combining our respective groups' resources and the help of donations, we hope to answer their call for assistance. The goal amount we are raising is only what is needed to cover the cost to secure their land and water source, so any donation amount made will go directly towards this goal.
Du’deh Films has created a short film titled Call of the Heart which highlights this Arhuaco village and the unthinkable effects of the encroachment of factory pollution on their homes. If you have not already seen this film you can view it on Nowness
Organizer and beneficiary
Joe Flores and Michael DiFranco McCarney
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
Michael McCarney
Beneficiary