MEET JUDITH
In The Heart Of The Arhuaco Community
I met Judith, an Arhuaco community leader who is not only incredible with the work she does for the Arhuacan women but as a person she radiates such a beautiful magnetising energy that is both strong and humble at the same time.
Upon arriving in Santa Marta, I headed to Minca to meet a friend who was going to introduce me to Judith.
As soon as I stepped out of the taxi at my Airbnb, I was greeted by the local mosquitoes, which wasted no time turning me into their buffet. Despite this, I was filled with excitement to meet Judith, who would take me to one of the communities she supports, hidden deep in the magical terrains of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
At 4 a.m., under the cover of darkness, I carefully avoided arousing any early-bird mosquitoes as I hopped into the jeep with my friend. Our journey to meet Judith and the community took us through mountains, across rivers, and over rocky tracks. After five or six hours of driving, we began to glimpse the stunning landscape. A calm, peaceful energy filled the jeep, and I knew we had arrived.
Judith introduced me to Clementine, the leader of the women in this particular community, and we were warmly welcomed.
Judith’s story is one of resilience and dedication. She is the daughter of a great leader who was assassinated by the Colombian national army when she was only 10 years old. Inspired by her father, Judith grew up determined to defend her culture and protect her community.
Married at 13, a common practice among indigenous cultures, Judith has five children. However, in recent years, the custom of early marriage has started to change.
Judith’s work mainly focuses on protecting the rights of women and children while respecting their ancient cultural vision.
She shared with me how her culture views women:
We are Mother Earth because we give life to human beings.
We are water because we bring life.
We are fire because we ignite life.
We are light because we radiate life.
We are the fundamental base in the support of man, both spiritually and materially.
I think it’s just so beautiful the way in which they view the woman and her importance, and it’s respected within their community.
In her culture, a man cannot fully succeed in any role, whether as a spiritual guide (a Mamo), an authority within the community, a father, or a member of society without a woman. This profound respect for women is beautifully ingrained in their community.
A young girl, perhaps 10 or 11 greeted us and began showing us around the community and we met other young girls weaving mochilas as they chatted, a normal practice for them which they would have learnt from a really young age.
The land they live on is stunning and as we are shown around we walk past plants and flowers that are simply stunning with colours so absolutely vibrant.
Later I am introduced to the other women in the community and shown the intricate process of how they weave, and the stories behind what some of the patterns and symbols mean. I bought a freshly woven alpaca mochila and the colours and meaning couldn’t have been more appropriate for me.
The craft of weaving bags is an ancestral trade among Arhuacan women, passed down from generation to generation. This ensures that their cultural traditions and expertise are preserved over time.
The community exuded a special magic, likely because of the care and dedication of the women. Their belief that all beings, humans, plants, animals, rocks, water, stars are interconnected is profound. They hold that every being has a mission within the balance of the universe, and we must care for Mother Earth as the most sacred being. Everything taken from the Earth must be with her permission, and we must give back in return. It’s an incredible ethos to live by.
I left the community feeling at peace and humbled. It was an honour to spend time with such a beautiful community, and this experience found a deep place in my heart.
If you ever visit Santa Marta, Judith’s community has an Arhuaca shop @kunsamu.mochila.arhuaca (on instagram) selling coffee, natural chocolate, honey, and their beautifully handmade mochilas.
I highly recommend visiting and supporting this beautiful and genuine community.
