Contributions of Arhuaca women to the sustainable territorial development of their communities

Abstract

Over the years, indigenous communities have been able to assert many of their fundamental rights through collective struggles. In these struggles, women have also sought to make visible their participation and contribution to the preservation of knowledge and community practices, as well as to play a leading and decisive role in the political, social and economic spheres of their communities. This document shares and reflects on the particular and transformative experiences of indigenous women from the Arhuaco Resguardo of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. These stories highlight the participation and impact of women in activities such as food sovereignty, the rescue of cultural memory, the implementation of self-justice, especially in the defence of the rights of girls and women, and other aspects such as education, indigenous literature and the creation of solidarity networks among indigenous women. Finally, some reflections are made on the need to achieve parity in decision-making positions within indigenous communities. This is despite the fact that women in this area are already leading this struggle, which in the medium term will allow them greater socio-political participation and greater involvement in local and national community decisions.