“The Younger Brother is damaging the world. He must understand and change his ways, or the world will die.”
Mamo Luis Guillermo Izquierdo (mah-moh loo-ees ghee-yair-moh ees-key-air-dough), Arhuaco leader
“We are nature’s guardians. In the Sierra Nevada farming organic is by nature, not because we need a certification.”
Ati Zeygundiba (ah-tee zay-goon-dee-bah), Arhuaco coffee grower
“The Mother is the owner of everything - all the rivers, all the mountains. Without women, daughters, who would guard all of this?”
Sisa Pinto (see-sah pin-tow), Kogi elder
“This is our own place and we are telling you. Not just today, but for 500 years! What are you doing here?”
Mama Jose Luis (mah-mah hoh-zay loo-ees), Kogi spiritual leader
“The earth is a living body. Damaging certain places damages the whole body.”
Mama Pedro Juan (mah-mah pay-drough wahn), Kogi spiritual leader
“To us water is female. Mistreating a woman is mistreating water.”
Saga Narcisa (sah-gah nahr-see-sah), Kogi spiritual leader
“It should be a human right to know the meaning of mother earth.”
Leonor Zalabata (lay-oh-nor sahl-lah-bah-tah), Arhuaco leader
“We see the natural world as a living being with rights. The rights of the natural world—of the air, the water, the moon, the stars—always take precedence.”
Mamo Amado Villafaña (ah-mah-dough vee-yah-fahn-yah), Arhuaco spiritual leader