Sierra Nevada de Gonawindúa – School of Ancestral Wisdom

The objective of this project is to provide assistance, so that children and young people of the Kogui – Wiwa communities can study their ancestral culture in all its aspects (music, weaving of bags, handicrafts and others), receiving this information from their ancestors. This helps to preserve the Ancestral Knowledge for the new generation, as well as to acquire the capacity of independence and self-support together with their younger siblings.

The project will also give the opportunity to learn the wisdom of the Kogui Cosmovision and their ways of life to anyone interested, even if they are not Kogui.

Project Details

From the Caribbean beaches, the Sierra Nevada Gonawindúa rises to the Colón and Bolivar peaks 5,775 meters above sea level. It ascends through narrow valleys with crystal clear rivers, through deserts, rainforests, moorlands and perpetual snow (MITSHINYMWA). It is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, the dry plains of La Guajira, and the savannas of the Magdalena and Cesar rivers.

Four indigenous ethnic groups inhabit the Sierra Nevada de Gonawindúa, the Wiwa, Kogui, Arhuaco and Kankuamo peoples, for whom the Sierra is the Heart of the World. A sacred site – source of knowledge – that must be taken care of through the respect to nature and spiritual work.

Our mission, for which we call ourselves “Hermanitos Mayores”, is to take care of Mother Earth, on whose fate the entire universe depends.

Although the social organization, dress and language vary among the four groups, they are united by their vision of creation, the Law of Origin (SHEMBUTA, SÉ, ZEN ZARE, JAKURA), a law written in each place of the Sierra, that defines and maintains the principles and norms for the material and spiritual life of the Tezhuna natives.

AWINGÜI – Intercultural Education Center

It is one of the meeting centers: Place of learning for the Kogui and Wiwa peoples of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, who make payments to the spiritual fathers of KUASIRAMA MAKÚ:

kua – healing the life of humanity and nature during Aganguashi and Aluna Zhiguashi
si – learning fulfilling the spiritual law of se
rama – life and energy of masculine, levelling the energies until they are perfect
MAKÚ – spiritual government of order, the Mamos in the Sierra Nevada de Gonawindúa, located in the north face of the area in front of the caribbean sea of Colombia.

The MUGUTAMA meeting place in the Sierra Nevada was recovered on November 23, 1999, thanks to the delivery of an extension of land to the Kogui-Wiwa people by the Colombian State. Approximately 25 hectares, known by the name of FINCA MUGUTAMA in the region of AWINGÜI. This place belonged to a farmer who donated it to be recovered, therefore passing it into the hands of the Mamos and Sagas. The 4 sacred spaces are very special for nature and the spiritual parents of different species. They continue to make spiritual payments to nature and the good of the world, which benefits all of humanity on our planet earth.

The Mamos, the Spiritual Authorities of the Kogui – Wiwa peoples call this space MUGUTAMA, a Kogui word that means “Training Center of the Kogui – Wiwa Peoples”.

Traditional School for Integral Training

In the year 2010, it was thanks to the mamo Pedro Mojica, that the “Traditional School for Integral Training” was built to ensure that students and adolescents learn the traditional elaboration of handicrafts, songs, sacred stories and Ancestral Knowledge.

The specific objective of the school is to educate Wiwa and Kogui children and adolescents in traditional intercultural musical education. Educating them in the learning of various musical instruments such as the flute, guacharacas, drums and others. Learning Tezhuna music is to learn to heal, or to cure, the general diseases of nature and humanity. This helps to control the decline of Ancestral Knowledge.

The intention is also to be able to welcome and share the Kogui wisdom with anyone who is genuinely interested in learning this Cosmovision and Way of Life.

The Financial Needs of the Project Are:

The Founders of the Project

Mama AWISEN Ukualkan
Kogui Spiritual Guide

Saka Maria Isabel Daza Dingula
Kogui Spiritual Guide

Mama Miguel Conchacala
Kogui Spiritual Guide

Saka Maria Jacinta Conchacala
Kogui Spiritual Guide

Mama Luis Barros Conchacala
Kogui Spiritual Guide

Saka Maria Luisa
Kogui Spiritual Guide

Mama Francisco
Kogui Spiritual Guide

Jacinto Moscote Alberto
Kogui Spiritual Guide

Mama Feliciano Gil Daza
Kogui Spiritual Guide

Juana Barros Conchacala
Kogui Spiritual Guide

Mama Rumazhi
Kogui Spiritual Guide

The Significance of Instruments

The Tezhuna instruments consist of the following: TAGU (the casing), WATHKU ANZHABU (female reed), WATHKU ANZHADE (male reed), AGUNA (the maraca), TANTA and SHINDALI. Generally, the music is performed during the following events: GAIAMA, DUMBURRU, GON, ISA KESHI, in marriage, receipt of poporo, receipt of usu to the women, baptism, mortuary, baptism of the sacred temples, construction of the temples, and spiritual payments to nature.

The TAGUNA is constructed of wood, bejuco, maguey string, and goat leather. It is crafted to communicate with nature.

The Maraca is composed of the following materials: Dried totumo (body) and the stick of DUANÁ to build the handle. This maraca is to accompany the WATHKU.

In her lives the sound and song of all kinds of living beings on planet earth. She is composed of bamboo that grows in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada of Gowindúa. The head of WATHKU is made by the wax of a micro wasp that lives inside the soil. It is collected exclusively to compose the WATHKU. The female reed allows 5 tones which are performed by the Maestro to sing to nature.

In him lives the sound and answers of all kinds of living beings on planet earth. He is composed of the same type of bamboo as the WATHKU ANZHABU, and also the wax and whistle are similar. The male reed offers a single tone, with which the second Maestro responds to the female.

The TANTA is a very traditional instrument made of red soil, which the Maestro plays to level and unify the thoughts.

The SHINDALI instrument is made of white soil and represents the Spiritual Authority of all living beings. The Maestros play to ask permission to the waters and to call upon the them.

We are grateful to all of the people who donate, contribute, and collaborate to make this Spiritual Center and School of Ancestral Wisdom a reality. It is an important step in the work of the continued preservation and active diffusion of our world’s Ancestral Heritage, which aims to benefit current and future generations live a more conscious life.

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We are perhaps a far way reality to you, however, we are still the same human family. If you believe in this dream and feel like helping our school, please, contribute within your means.

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