Identity
I am Embera Eyabida from Colombia. Growing up as part of my Peoples shaped everything I do, from my connection to rivers and forests to my work as an educator, researcher, and Indigenous leader.
My childhood was marked by forced displacement. My family was threatened, and we had to leave our territory, Urabá, the Land of the Sun. We moved in with my maternal grandmother in Chocó, where Embera and Afro-descendant cultures coexist.
The river was my favorite place as a child and still is today. When the period of violence passed, I returned to my homeland to be with my grandmothers, who have been fundamental pillars in my upbringing.
Discovering Her Path
I was invited to an assembly of Embera Eyabida women. On the way, I met an older woman who reminded me of my great-great-grandmother. A bond formed, and we shared many moments during the event. One night, she asked me to braid her hair. As my hands wove through her hair, I felt a deep message in my heart. I decided then to dedicate my life to learning about the ancestral knowledge of my Peoples.
At university, I conducted my research on the ancestral songs of Embera grandmothers. Since then, I have worked to make visible and give value to Indigenous methodologies born from the wisdom of our Peoples.
Inspired by Her Elders
My great-great-grandmother, Anita Bailarín Domicó, has been one of my greatest inspirations. In the 1960s and ’70s, she helped organize our community. She was a traditional healer and singer of trumbí, ancestral songs we perform to learn the languages of nature and the beings that dwell within it. She taught me that leadership and the defense of land and culture must be connected to spirituality. Her lessons continue to guide me today.
Advocating for Indigenous Knowledge
I am grateful to leaders who have dedicated their lives to the recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ rights. I learned to take pride in our knowledge, and I carry that into colonial spaces, where I assert that Indigenous Knowledge holds viable solutions to mitigate the climate crisis and harmonize human relationships. We are guardian beings of the Earth, and our principles of living in community are an example of buen vivir in an ego-centered world.
Preserving Cultural Transmission
Ancestral knowledge transmitted through music, dance, and ritual continues to be lost due to technology, poverty, and westernized education. If younger generations lose these roots, they will not have the tools to defend their territories or live their culture with dignity.
Indigenous Women in Leadership
Recently, I coordinated a working group related to biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples, and I was the only woman present. This shows there is still a large gap between the participation of Indigenous women and men in decision-making spaces.
Women possess an admirable power—our leadership combines strength and sensitivity. I participate in these spaces being exactly who I am, bringing what my grandmothers and my territory have taught me, especially the rivers. I remember what a brother from the Ecuadorian Amazon told me: “We, Indigenous Peoples are defenders and caretakers of the Earth by nature, and this principle applies to both women and men.”
Joining Cultural Survival
I first learned about Cultural Survival when the Keepers of the Earth Fund supported my project on recovering ancestral songs. Later, while pursuing my master’s degree in sacred site protection, I became a CS youth fellow. It infused the positive impact of Cultural Survival’s work and dreamed of joining the team. My expectation is to continue supporting and learning from the struggles, defense efforts, and ancestral knowledge of Indigenous Peoples, not only in my country but also on other continents.
Dreams for the Future
I want to support our traditional governance systems to recover and protect sacred sites, many of which are threatened by mining and monoculture. I dream of water sources running free and native animals thriving, so my community continues to thrive. I also want to continue learning about medicinal plants and pursue a doctorate to deepen my understanding of the integral connection between culture, nature, and human life.
