Wayuu PUEBLO
The Wayuu inhabit the arid Guajira peninsula, located on the border between Venezuela and Colombia, along the Caribbean Sea coast
The Wayuu people are known as the people of the sun, sand, and wind.
The Wayuu inhabit the arid Guajira peninsula, located on the border between Venezuela and Colombia, along the Caribbean Sea coast. Their language, called Wayuunaiki, belongs to the Arawak family. They are the largest indigenous Colombian people by population, which means that several local institutions implement a bilingual system.
The community is matrilineal and composed of about 30 clans, each represented by a distinct animal. The maternal uncle is an important paternal figure for children, and women enjoy great autonomy, being active even in the political life of the community. Both women and men can be spiritual leaders.
COSMODROME
The central figure of the Wayuu religion is Maleiwa, the creator God of everything, of the Wayuu people, and the founder of society. Pulowi and Juya, spiritual beings similar to demigods, are a couple associated with procreation and life: Pulowi, the female figure, is linked to the wind and dry seasons, while Juya, the male, is a nomadic hunter seen as a powerful killer. Wanülu represents the evil spirit of illness and death.
Dreams (lapü) are a fundamental manifestation for the Wayuu people,
through which various messages, beneficial or not, are revealed. Dreams are predictions of someone's future or destiny; they are sacred visions that can only be interpreted by a female spiritual guide, known as Ouutsü.
The Guajira region is located in the extreme north of Colombia, sharing a border with Venezuela, and is the ancestral territory of the Wayuu people. It is a region of breathtaking landscapes, where desert dunes meet the blue Caribbean Sea.
MEMBERSHIP CARDS
Puberty is a very important stage in the lives of Wayuu girls. When they begin to menstruate, they follow precise rituals that involve a period of seclusion that can last from two months to two years. During this time, Wayuu girls are instructed by elders in the various trades and tasks performed by an adult woman in the community, learning activities such as weaving, cooking, and housekeeping.
Wayuu women learn to weave at a young age. The Wayuu, descendants of the Caribs and Arawaks, are renowned for their strong textile tradition, which is still one of their main sources of income today.
It is said that the Wayuu learned the art of weaving from a mythical spider named Walekeru,
who created magical pieces using thread from her mouth. It was Walekeru who taught all Wayuu women to crochet, making sleeping hammocks, belts for men, shoes, bracelets, and Wayuu bags of various sizes and weaving techniques, intended for different uses.
The Wayuu woman is active and independent, playing an important role as a clan leader and organizer, and is politically active in her society, which is why female authorities represent their people in public spaces. In 2022, two female political representatives achieved the roles of senators in the Congress of the Republic of Colombia.
THE BACKPACKS
Traditionally, Wayuu bags (mochilas) were not as vibrant and colorful as they are today. Cotton, which once grew in the Guajira region, was used to make bags with natural fibers. These were dyed with plants and other natural elements, taking on shades of brown, red, and other natural tones.
Weaving and crocheting constitute an important part
of women's daily lives.
But men also participate in this industry: they make the straps, provide the materials, and transport the products to urban centers. The Wayuu people produce millions of high-quality handicrafts every year. This artisan weaving industry plays a vital role in the local economy, through which they create and offer items such as hammocks, accessories, and the most renowned Wayuu mochilas (bags).
Today, Wayuu bags are the most exported handicraft product in all of Colombia. However, unfortunately, there is no legislation to protect the intellectual rights of these artifacts, and it is often possible to find Wayuu creations around the world sold under different brands of "creators/designers," without recognizing the cultural provenance of these artifacts.
With Chisakuï, we conducted research in the lower Guajira region to build commercial ties based on trust and ethical compensation, selecting products that, in our opinion, reflect the rich cultural heritage and design creativity. Our aim is to expand commercial relations to more remote areas of Guajira, where resources often arrive and leave with great difficulty.
BESTSELLERS
