Hermano Mayor
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, located in northern Colombia between Panama and Venezuela, is (with its 5.700m ca.) the world’s highest coastal massif and the birthplace of one of the most advanced pre-Columbian civilizations, the Tyrona.
The Tyrona people were forced to seek refuge high in the mountains to escape persecution by the Spanish colonising army. As a result, they split into four populations: Arhuaco, Kankuamo, Kogui and Wiwa. Believed to have disappeared due to the scarcity of resources and inhospitable conditions of the territory, these groups remained isolated from the rest of the world for more than 300 years.
The Tyrona descendants survived thanks to the use of the cornerstone of their culture, the sacred plant Ayu (Coca), which served as a food source, the base of their spiritual practices, and a source of knowledge. Due to their isolation, the Sierra Nevada inhabitants were able to keep nearly intact their archaic way of life, based on a semi-nomadic system, as well as their traditional knowledge and ancestral cosmogony.
Nature is sacred in their eyes, and the Earth is our Mother, feeding and nourishing us; therefore, we must learn to cultivate our mind and thoughts, to respect and protect Her. As guardians of the knowledge of the "Ley de Origen", inherited from their ancestors, they call themselves the Hermano Mayor (Older Brother). This law governs all aspects of life, from birth to death, as well as its relationship to the outside world, helping to maintain an existence in harmony with nature.
This deep connection inspired a relentless defense and adherence to ancestral laws, granting them legal recognition of territorial ownership and its resource administration, making them a vital force in combating climate change.
My time with them offered profound insights into their culture and their deep understanding of the human spirit's connection to society and the environment. I felt like a Younger Brother who still has much to learn and how precious are the teaching they can share with us.
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, located in northern Colombia between Panama and Venezuela, is (with its 5.700m ca.) the world’s highest coastal massif and the birthplace of one of the most advanced pre-Columbian civilizations, the Tyrona.
