Our commitment to the indigenous Arhuaco community
At Tatwa, we are committed to working for the preservation of the ancestral knowledge of each community we encounter through respectful exchanges. We have a stronger commitment to the Arhuaco community of the Sierra Nevada in Colombia, which perfectly reflects our mission. We do not wish to relive the pure and simple destruction of ancestral communities that we have experienced in Europe.
Who are the Arhuacos?
The Arhuacos represent an indigenous people of the Sierra Nevada, in the heart of the mountains of northern Colombia. On the heights of Santa Marta, they are part of the guardians of the ancestral wisdom of this mountainous region of the Andes range, along with the Kogis, the Kankuamos, and the Wiwas. This system of millenary knowledge was inscribed in 2022 on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a few months after our last visit to their territory.
These isolated communities consider their territory as the spiritual heart of the Earth. Their ancestral knowledge thus defines the sacred missions for a life in harmony with the physical and spiritual world. This balance is based on attentive and respectful listening to the mountains, rivers, and the entire plant world that surrounds them. Their rituals and master plants allow them to communicate with the spirits of nature to understand their needs and convey their prayers.
What dangers threaten ancestral communities?
Today, the Arhuacos, like the vast majority of indigenous communities in South America, are in danger from multinationals and governments whose interests are focused on profit and exploitation.
Facing the threats endured by the Arhuacos, we support their efforts to buy back and protect their sacred lands. These lands have belonged to their community for millennia, long before the emergence of modern civilizations.
At Tatwa, our commitment is clear: we choose respect for life and the appreciation of ancestral knowledge.
How to support Tatwa and the Arhuacos?
Tatwa donates a percentage of each sale to safeguard the indigenous Arhuaco community.
These financial resources support them in reclaiming their territory, thus ensuring the transmission of their culture and ancestral knowledge. Our deep bonds, based on respect and exchange, allow us to contribute sustainably to their preservation.
By choosing Tatwa, your action is not limited to just buying a product: you actively participate in a cause that goes beyond personal well-being. You support the preservation of an ancient heritage by assisting the Arhuacos to protect their traditional medicine, their heritage, and their lands.
Help us preserve these millennia-old cultural treasures!
Join our mission with indigenous peoples
Our goal is to join our efforts, all together, to protect the Arhuacos' environment and pass on their knowledge to future generations. Everyone's support is essential and urgent. Give a gift of hope to this community by supporting them.
Let’s save the Arhuacos, let’s save the ancestral peoples!
To learn more about the precarious situation of the Arhuacos, take a few minutes to listen to the story of an experience lived in 2022 by Laurent Gheller, one of the founders of Tatwa.