Latest news with #IndigenousWayuu
The Independent
21-02-2025
- General
- The Independent
Droughts, floods and economic uncertainty: Portraits of the Wayuu people in northern Colombia
Climate change is rapidly altering the way of life of the Indigenous Wayuu people, a semi-nomadic Indigenous group living in the arid La Guajira region, which spans northern Colombia and Venezuela. Prolonged droughts, intensified by climate change, have worsened water scarcity, straining the Wayuu's already limited access to drinking water and resources for livestock and agriculture. As rainfall becomes more erratic, food insecurity rises, with crops failing and livestock struggling to survive. Health risks also escalate, with heat waves increasing dehydration and extreme weather events leading to flooding and waterborne diseases. Their way of life is also being threatened as companies and the government — who want to capitalize on the region's wind potential — seek to build wind farms. ______ EDITOR'S NOTE: This is part of a series of on how tribes and Indigenous communities are coping with and combating climate change. ______ A lot of the Wayuu population preserve traditional, semi-nomadic ways of living on 'rancherias,' which are thatched-like roofed huts, made from dried cacti and mud and herd cattle and goats. They also have a traditional governance system and laws based on their cultural and spiritual practices. The worsening conditions have forced many Wayuu to migrate, either to urban centers or across borders, further intensifying their socio-economic struggles. This displacement threatens their traditional livelihoods of farming, fishing and herding. The impacts extend beyond economics, as the Wayuu's cultural identity, rooted in their spiritual connection to the land, is also at risk. — Luciane Mengual, 22, a mother of two from the Wayuu community, lives with her 47-year-old mother, Nelly, in an informal settlement called Villa del Sur on the outskirts of Riohacha in northern Colombia. The family migrated from Maracaibo, Venezuela, near the border, seeking better opportunities amid economic hardships in Venezuela. Their home, built from scrap materials like tin, wood, and plastic tarp, lies in an area recently devastated by extreme flooding. The usually dry region of La Guajira has been hit by increasingly frequent and intense floods, submerging makeshift homes that lack basic services like running water or sewage systems. Heavy winds, typical of the area, often tear off their roof, further threatening their fragile living conditions. — A Wayuu Indigenous family rested in a chinchorro, a traditional woven bed that many prefer over mattresses. Unlike a standard hammock, a chinchorro features an enclosed, elongated design with sides that gently wrap around the body, offering a cocoon-like feel. Wayuu people consider it more comfortable for sleeping than a hammock. This family, also made up of Wayuu migrants from Venezuela, lives in an informal settlement, right beside Riohacha's airport. Their house, with no running water, is prone to the severe floods and extreme heat that has ravished the La Guajira region in recent years. — Rosa Elena González, 45, is a Wayuu woman from Maracaibo, Venezuela. She has been living in the Somos Unidos informal neighborhood in Maicao, Colombia, for the past seven years, after migrating from Venezuela. 'When there are big weather events like huge downpours, the young and elderly get sick … most of them don't have health insurance,' she said. 'Some families have roofs made out of plastic bags which break. In January, the wind got so strong that almost all of us lost our roofs.' — Alfredo Atencio, 69, is from the Wayuu community on the Colombian side of the border who lives in the Amanecer de la Paz neighborhood in Maicao with his daughter and her three children. His home, constructed from recycled materials and covered with zinc, lacks internal divisions and he says the strong wind and flooding has impacted him. 'It hits really hard, and when it's really hot and there's lots of sun, it's tough too,' he told the Associated Press. With support from a kit provided by the Danish Refugee Council, Atencio was able to expand his home using the wood and cement boards supplied, making significant improvements to his living space. — Kelmis Maria Gonzalez, 45, a Wayuu woman and teacher from Mayapo along the La Guajira coast, lives with her son, David. She is also trained in teaching about 'Mother Earth.' Gonzalez says climate change, driven by multinational activities, is severely impacting the Wayuu people, particularly the traditional fishermen known as Apalaanchi. Coastal erosion is rapidly destroying the shoreline and the mangroves in her community, and she points to offshore gas production, visible in the distance, as a major culprit. 'It is a territorial and environmental crisis that deeply affects us as a people, especially from a spiritual perspective,' she told AP. 'Our connection with nature is integral to our identity as Wayuu. We view the sea as our ancestral grandmother, who provides us with sustenance. But she also sends us a warning — our actions are harming her.' Gonzalez blames 'cultures that pursue what they call progress,' especially through the exploitation of natural resources. — In the remote Cabo de la Vela, the heartland of the Wayuu people, Luis Arturo Barliza, 48, represents the small community of Casa Eléctrica, where a wind farm has been proposed. Several wind farm projects in La Guajira are currently on hold as the Wayuu communities struggle to reach a consensus on how these projects should proceed and what benefits they will receive. While Barliza does not oppose the wind farms himself and has signed agreements to allow turbines on his land, many in his community, and even his family, vehemently reject the companies behind the projects. 'It's going to be very difficult to reach an agreement, it's very complex,' Barliza says, acknowledging that the Wayuu communities have differing leaders and perspectives on the issue. Over 50 wind farm projects remain on hold due to resistance from the Wayuu people, according to Indepaz, a Bogota-based think tank. ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Associated Press
21-02-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Droughts, floods and economic uncertainty: Portraits of the Wayuu people in northern Colombia
RIOHACHA, Colombia (AP) — Climate change is rapidly altering the way of life of the Indigenous Wayuu people, a semi-nomadic Indigenous group living in the arid La Guajira region, which spans northern Colombia and Venezuela. Prolonged droughts, intensified by climate change, have worsened water scarcity, straining the Wayuu's already limited access to drinking water and resources for livestock and agriculture. As rainfall becomes more erratic, food insecurity rises, with crops failing and livestock struggling to survive. Health risks also escalate, with heat waves increasing dehydration and extreme weather events leading to flooding and waterborne diseases. Their way of life is also being threatened as companies and the government — who want to capitalize on the region's wind potential — seek to build wind farms. ______ EDITOR'S NOTE: This is part of a series of on how tribes and Indigenous communities are coping with and combating climate change. ______ A lot of the Wayuu population preserve traditional, semi-nomadic ways of living on 'rancherias,' which are thatched-like roofed huts, made from dried cacti and mud and herd cattle and goats. They also have a traditional governance system and laws based on their cultural and spiritual practices. The worsening conditions have forced many Wayuu to migrate, either to urban centers or across borders, further intensifying their socio-economic struggles. This displacement threatens their traditional livelihoods of farming, fishing and herding. The impacts extend beyond economics, as the Wayuu's cultural identity, rooted in their spiritual connection to the land, is also at risk. — Luciane Mengual, 22, a mother of two from the Wayuu community, lives with her 47-year-old mother, Nelly, in an informal settlement called Villa del Sur on the outskirts of Riohacha in northern Colombia. The family migrated from Maracaibo, Venezuela, near the border, seeking better opportunities amid economic hardships in Venezuela. Their home, built from scrap materials like tin, wood, and plastic tarp, lies in an area recently devastated by extreme flooding. The usually dry region of La Guajira has been hit by increasingly frequent and intense floods, submerging makeshift homes that lack basic services like running water or sewage systems. Heavy winds, typical of the area, often tear off their roof, further threatening their fragile living conditions. — A Wayuu Indigenous family rested in a chinchorro, a traditional woven bed that many prefer over mattresses. Unlike a standard hammock, a chinchorro features an enclosed, elongated design with sides that gently wrap around the body, offering a cocoon-like feel. Wayuu people consider it more comfortable for sleeping than a hammock. This family, also made up of Wayuu migrants from Venezuela, lives in an informal settlement, right beside Riohacha's airport. Their house, with no running water, is prone to the severe floods and extreme heat that has ravished the La Guajira region in recent years. — Rosa Elena González, 45, is a Wayuu woman from Maracaibo, Venezuela. She has been living in the Somos Unidos informal neighborhood in Maicao, Colombia, for the past seven years, after migrating from Venezuela. 'When there are big weather events like huge downpours, the young and elderly get sick … most of them don't have health insurance,' she said. 'Some families have roofs made out of plastic bags which break. In January, the wind got so strong that almost all of us lost our roofs.' — Alfredo Atencio, 69, is from the Wayuu community on the Colombian side of the border who lives in the Amanecer de la Paz neighborhood in Maicao with his daughter and her three children. His home, constructed from recycled materials and covered with zinc, lacks internal divisions and he says the strong wind and flooding has impacted him. 'It hits really hard, and when it's really hot and there's lots of sun, it's tough too,' he told the Associated Press. With support from a kit provided by the Danish Refugee Council, Atencio was able to expand his home using the wood and cement boards supplied, making significant improvements to his living space. — Kelmis Maria Gonzalez, 45, a Wayuu woman and teacher from Mayapo along the La Guajira coast, lives with her son, David. She is also trained in teaching about 'Mother Earth.' Gonzalez says climate change, driven by multinational activities, is severely impacting the Wayuu people, particularly the traditional fishermen known as Apalaanchi. Coastal erosion is rapidly destroying the shoreline and the mangroves in her community, and she points to offshore gas production, visible in the distance, as a major culprit. 'It is a territorial and environmental crisis that deeply affects us as a people, especially from a spiritual perspective,' she told AP. 'Our connection with nature is integral to our identity as Wayuu. We view the sea as our ancestral grandmother, who provides us with sustenance. But she also sends us a warning — our actions are harming her.' Gonzalez blames 'cultures that pursue what they call progress,' especially through the exploitation of natural resources. — In the remote Cabo de la Vela, the heartland of the Wayuu people, Luis Arturo Barliza, 48, represents the small community of Casa Eléctrica, where a wind farm has been proposed. Several wind farm projects in La Guajira are currently on hold as the Wayuu communities struggle to reach a consensus on how these projects should proceed and what benefits they will receive. While Barliza does not oppose the wind farms himself and has signed agreements to allow turbines on his land, many in his community, and even his family, vehemently reject the companies behind the projects. 'It's going to be very difficult to reach an agreement, it's very complex,' Barliza says, acknowledging that the Wayuu communities have differing leaders and perspectives on the issue. Over 50 wind farm projects remain on hold due to resistance from the Wayuu people, according to Indepaz, a Bogota-based think tank. ___
The Independent
20-02-2025
- General
- The Independent
Indigenous resistance stalls Colombia's potential renewable energy boom in La Guajira
Giant wind turbines tower over a cemetery sacred to Zoyla Velasquez and her Indigenous Wayuu community, native to the La Guajira region in northern Colombia. This arid, wind-swept region, dotted with cacti and roaming herds of goats, holds immense potential to position Colombia as a wind and solar energy leader. However, resistance from the Wayuu community has stalled many proposed projects by multinational companies and the government. The Wayuu have concerns about the environmental and cultural impacts and the lack of prior consultation in what's one of the nation's poorest regions. Now, these companies are also eyeing the region's offshore wind farm prospects. 'This cemetery is sacred to us, the Wayuu,' 64-year-old Velasquez said in Spanish, though she is more comfortable speaking in her native Wayuunaiki. Wayuu leaders say what is threatened isn't the cemetery itself but the spirituality of the territory. 'It is here that the bones of our ancestors rest. That's what matters most to us.' The region could generate approximately 15 gigawatts of wind energy, according to Colombia's Mining and Energy Planning Unit, which could power up to an estimated 37.5 million homes annually. It's part of Colombia's just energy transition, aiming to replace fossil fuels with renewables while supporting vulnerable groups like Indigenous peoples. The Wayuu say this isn't happening. Rising tensions Construction started on the La Guajira 1 wind farm — which looms over the cemetery near Cabo de la Vela — in 2020 after a mix of legal processes, government backing, and controversial negotiations and unsatisfactory prior consultation. It faced significant opposition from the Wayuu and has been producing electricity since 2022, but is not yet hooked up to the interconnected system. 'Wayuu spirituality is the fundamental base of our life and existence,' said Aníbal Mercado, a 'Palabrero,' head of the regional Wayuu council. He wasn't part of the consultations due to his staunch opposition. 'If something disturbs the peacefulness of our dead, they're affecting spiritual peace and tranquility. And as long as (the turbines) are there, there is going to be direct violation, anxiety and impact.' ______ EDITOR'S NOTE: This is part of a series of on how tribes and Indigenous communities are coping with and combating climate change. ______ A lot of the population also preserve traditional, semi nomadic ways of living on 'rancherias,' which are thatched-like roofed huts, made from dried cacti and mud, herd cattle and goats, and many are armed. They also have a traditional governance system and laws based on their cultural and spiritual practices. Critics warn that the government's push to expedite approvals for other developments could escalate tensions. 'La Guajira has been very sought after by these companies,' Samuel Lanao, head of Corpoguajira, La Guajira's environment authority told The Associated Press in Riohacha, the region's capital. 'When a foreign company enters these territories with the intention of exploiting renewable energies, there is always going to be a clash." Colombia's government has committed to respecting Indigenous rights through legal frameworks like the 1991 Constitution, which recognizes Indigenous autonomy, and international agreements that ensure their right to prior consultation and participation in decisions that affect them. The 2016 Peace Agreement also touched on Indigenous communities' rights, land restitution, and participation in political processes. Social issues have begun to spook companies, with 57 planned projects stalled, according to Indepaz, a Bogotá-based development organization with extensive research on the matter. While some projects are Colombian, the majority involve international companies from Brazil, Europe, U.S. and Canada. 'It's clear they're worried. There's been a slowdown in the progress of these energy transition projects precisely because of that conflict,' Lanao said. 'I believe that the national government plays an important role in achieving a community-company agreement.' Colombia's environment ministry did not respond to requests for comment. A replacement for coal? The region is home to Cerrejon, one of the largest open-pit coal mines in the world and a major player in Latin America's mining sector, which has been in operation since 1985. The mine has just nine years left in its lifespan, and its closure, without alternative plans in place, will deal a significant blow to the region's economy. 'You can imagine what this energy transition means to us,' Lanao said. 'This renewable energy sector comes to supply the income that the coal exploitation gives us today in La Guajira.' Developing wind projects in Guajira is key to guaranteeing a reliable supply of electricity in Colombia, says Margarita Nieves, founder of Colombian Offshore Wind Research Network and La Guajira native. Nieves added for La Guajira, it represents an opportunity to have a new industry that will generate employment, position it as a center for the production of goods and services for the wind energy sector, and contribute to meeting the electricity demand of its inhabitants. But the issue is also causing internal friction within the Wayuu community which stems from differing views on economic benefits, with some supporting development for financial gain. The AP spoke to several Wayuu families living near wind turbines who do not oppose the companies operating there, as they have received financial assistance and housing. Others are not convinced. 'An old saying goes that if you've never owned a chicken, manure looks like an egg to you,' Mercado, the Palabrero, said when asked about those in the community who accept help from the companies, which is much less than what he'd consider fair compensation. 'There are many communities that have never had anything. In the midst of so much need, so much crisis, so much hunger, any little penny that they are being offered now seems like a miracle cure and the greatest wealth in the world to them,' he said. New offshore plans also shunned Companies are now carrying out studies for offshore wind farms, which is also enraging the Wayuu, especially traditional fishers, known as Apalanchii. Lanao, of the environmental authority, says just because the project is in the sea, it does not mean the communities do not have influence. The Apalanchii use traditional fishing techniques, with nets, hooks and sometimes spearfishing. It is not only a means of sustenance but also a culturally important activity which they say ties them to their ancestors and the land. 'We are really worried about the offshore wind farms,' said fisherman Aaron Laguna Ipuana, 57, during an early morning fishing trip in Cabo de la Vela with his crew. 'They're going to displace us and the sea is everything to us. It sustains us." Mercado says the government needs to do more to ensure Wayuu people are involved. 'We are concerned that these projects continue and that the government is letting them go ahead, without even coming to say what is going to happen and what is in the interest of the Wayuu people," said Mercado. 'The Wayuu defend their territory with blood and death, if necessary,' he said. At the cemetery, Velasquez, dressed in a traditional Wayuu robe and headscarf, gently strokes and observes the graves alongside her sister and young niece. In the background, the turbine blades continue to turn. 'The nobility of a Wayuu is used by companies,' Velazquez says. 'May they do something good for us ... the way we want it.' ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
The Hill
20-02-2025
- General
- The Hill
Indigenous resistance stalls Colombia's potential renewable energy boom in La Guajira
CABO DE LA VELA, Colombia (AP) — Giant wind turbines tower over a cemetery sacred to Zoyla Velasquez and her Indigenous Wayuu community, native to the La Guajira region in northern Colombia. This arid, wind-swept region, dotted with cacti and roaming herds of goats, holds immense potential to position Colombia as a wind and solar energy leader. However, resistance from the Wayuu community has stalled many proposed projects by multinational companies and the government. The Wayuu have concerns about the environmental and cultural impacts and the lack of prior consultation in what's one of the nation's poorest regions. Now, these companies are also eyeing the region's offshore wind farm prospects. 'This cemetery is sacred to us, the Wayuu,' 64-year-old Velasquez said in Spanish, though she is more comfortable speaking in her native Wayuunaiki. Wayuu leaders say what is threatened isn't the cemetery itself but the spirituality of the territory. 'It is here that the bones of our ancestors rest. That's what matters most to us.' The region could generate approximately 15 gigawatts of wind energy, according to Colombia's Mining and Energy Planning Unit, which could power up to an estimated 37.5 million homes annually. It's part of Colombia's just energy transition, aiming to replace fossil fuels with renewables while supporting vulnerable groups like Indigenous peoples. The Wayuu say this isn't happening. Rising tensions Construction started on the La Guajira 1 wind farm — which looms over the cemetery near Cabo de la Vela — in 2020 after a mix of legal processes, government backing, and controversial negotiations and unsatisfactory prior consultation. It faced significant opposition from the Wayuu and has been producing electricity since 2022, but is not yet hooked up to the interconnected system. 'Wayuu spirituality is the fundamental base of our life and existence,' said Aníbal Mercado, a 'Palabrero,' head of the regional Wayuu council. He wasn't part of the consultations due to his staunch opposition. 'If something disturbs the peacefulness of our dead, they're affecting spiritual peace and tranquility. And as long as (the turbines) are there, there is going to be direct violation, anxiety and impact.' ______ EDITOR'S NOTE: This is part of a series of on how tribes and Indigenous communities are coping with and combating climate change. ______ A lot of the population also preserve traditional, semi nomadic ways of living on 'rancherias,' which are thatched-like roofed huts, made from dried cacti and mud, herd cattle and goats, and many are armed. They also have a traditional governance system and laws based on their cultural and spiritual practices. Critics warn that the government's push to expedite approvals for other developments could escalate tensions. 'La Guajira has been very sought after by these companies,' Samuel Lanao, head of Corpoguajira, La Guajira's environment authority told The Associated Press in Riohacha, the region's capital. 'When a foreign company enters these territories with the intention of exploiting renewable energies, there is always going to be a clash.' Colombia's government has committed to respecting Indigenous rights through legal frameworks like the 1991 Constitution, which recognizes Indigenous autonomy, and international agreements that ensure their right to prior consultation and participation in decisions that affect them. The 2016 Peace Agreement also touched on Indigenous communities' rights, land restitution, and participation in political processes. Social issues have begun to spook companies, with 57 planned projects stalled, according to Indepaz, a Bogotá-based development organization with extensive research on the matter. While some projects are Colombian, the majority involve international companies from Brazil, Europe, U.S. and Canada. 'It's clear they're worried. There's been a slowdown in the progress of these energy transition projects precisely because of that conflict,' Lanao said. 'I believe that the national government plays an important role in achieving a community-company agreement.' Colombia's environment ministry did not respond to requests for comment. A replacement for coal? The region is home to Cerrejon, one of the largest open-pit coal mines in the world and a major player in Latin America's mining sector, which has been in operation since 1985. The mine has just nine years left in its lifespan, and its closure, without alternative plans in place, will deal a significant blow to the region's economy. 'You can imagine what this energy transition means to us,' Lanao said. 'This renewable energy sector comes to supply the income that the coal exploitation gives us today in La Guajira.' Developing wind projects in Guajira is key to guaranteeing a reliable supply of electricity in Colombia, says Margarita Nieves, founder of Colombian Offshore Wind Research Network and La Guajira native. Nieves added for La Guajira, it represents an opportunity to have a new industry that will generate employment, position it as a center for the production of goods and services for the wind energy sector, and contribute to meeting the electricity demand of its inhabitants. But the issue is also causing internal friction within the Wayuu community which stems from differing views on economic benefits, with some supporting development for financial gain. The AP spoke to several Wayuu families living near wind turbines who do not oppose the companies operating there, as they have received financial assistance and housing. Others are not convinced. 'An old saying goes that if you've never owned a chicken, manure looks like an egg to you,' Mercado, the Palabrero, said when asked about those in the community who accept help from the companies, which is much less than what he'd consider fair compensation. 'There are many communities that have never had anything. In the midst of so much need, so much crisis, so much hunger, any little penny that they are being offered now seems like a miracle cure and the greatest wealth in the world to them,' he said. New offshore plans also shunned Companies are now carrying out studies for offshore wind farms, which is also enraging the Wayuu, especially traditional fishers, known as Apalanchii. Lanao, of the environmental authority, says just because the project is in the sea, it does not mean the communities do not have influence. The Apalanchii use traditional fishing techniques, with nets, hooks and sometimes spearfishing. It is not only a means of sustenance but also a culturally important activity which they say ties them to their ancestors and the land. 'We are really worried about the offshore wind farms,' said fisherman Aaron Laguna Ipuana, 57, during an early morning fishing trip in Cabo de la Vela with his crew. 'They're going to displace us and the sea is everything to us. It sustains us.' Mercado says the government needs to do more to ensure Wayuu people are involved. 'We are concerned that these projects continue and that the government is letting them go ahead, without even coming to say what is going to happen and what is in the interest of the Wayuu people,' said Mercado. 'The Wayuu defend their territory with blood and death, if necessary,' he said. At the cemetery, Velasquez, dressed in a traditional Wayuu robe and headscarf, gently strokes and observes the graves alongside her sister and young niece. In the background, the turbine blades continue to turn. 'The nobility of a Wayuu is used by companies,' Velazquez says. 'May they do something good for us … the way we want it.' ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Indigenous resistance stalls Colombia's potential renewable energy boom in La Guajira
CABO DE LA VELA, Colombia (AP) — Giant wind turbines tower over a cemetery sacred to Zoyla Velasquez and her Indigenous Wayuu community, native to the La Guajira region in northern Colombia. This arid, wind-swept region, dotted with cacti and roaming herds of goats, holds immense potential to position Colombia as a wind and solar energy leader. However, resistance from the Wayuu community has stalled many proposed projects by multinational companies and the government. The Wayuu have concerns about the environmental and cultural impacts and the lack of prior consultation in what's one of the nation's poorest regions. Now, these companies are also eyeing the region's offshore wind farm prospects. 'This cemetery is sacred to us, the Wayuu,' 64-year-old Velasquez said in Spanish, though she is more comfortable speaking in her native Wayuunaiki. Wayuu leaders say what is threatened isn't the cemetery itself but the spirituality of the territory. 'It is here that the bones of our ancestors rest. That's what matters most to us.' See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. The region could generate approximately 15 gigawatts of wind energy, according to Colombia's Mining and Energy Planning Unit, which could power up to an estimated 37.5 million homes annually. It's part of Colombia's just energy transition, aiming to replace fossil fuels with renewables while supporting vulnerable groups like Indigenous peoples. The Wayuu say this isn't happening. Rising tensions Construction started on the La Guajira 1 wind farm — which looms over the cemetery near Cabo de la Vela — in 2020 after a mix of legal processes, government backing, and controversial negotiations and unsatisfactory prior consultation. It faced significant opposition from the Wayuu and has been producing electricity since 2022, but is not yet hooked up to the interconnected system. 'Wayuu spirituality is the fundamental base of our life and existence,' said Aníbal Mercado, a 'Palabrero,' head of the regional Wayuu council. He wasn't part of the consultations due to his staunch opposition. 'If something disturbs the peacefulness of our dead, they're affecting spiritual peace and tranquility. And as long as (the turbines) are there, there is going to be direct violation, anxiety and impact.' ______ EDITOR'S NOTE: This is part of a series of on how tribes and Indigenous communities are coping with and combating climate change. ______ A lot of the population also preserve traditional, semi nomadic ways of living on 'rancherias,' which are thatched-like roofed huts, made from dried cacti and mud, herd cattle and goats, and many are armed. They also have a traditional governance system and laws based on their cultural and spiritual practices. Critics warn that the government's push to expedite approvals for other developments could escalate tensions. 'La Guajira has been very sought after by these companies,' Samuel Lanao, head of Corpoguajira, La Guajira's environment authority told The Associated Press in Riohacha, the region's capital. 'When a foreign company enters these territories with the intention of exploiting renewable energies, there is always going to be a clash." Colombia's government has committed to respecting Indigenous rights through legal frameworks like the 1991 Constitution, which recognizes Indigenous autonomy, and international agreements that ensure their right to prior consultation and participation in decisions that affect them. The 2016 Peace Agreement also touched on Indigenous communities' rights, land restitution, and participation in political processes. Social issues have begun to spook companies, with 57 planned projects stalled, according to Indepaz, a Bogotá 'It's clear they're worried. There's been a slowdown in the progress of these energy transition projects precisely because of that conflict,' Lanao said. 'I believe that the national government plays an important role in achieving a community-company agreement.' Colombia's environment ministry did not respond to requests for comment. A replacement for coal? The region is home to Cerrejon, one of the largest open-pit coal mines in the world and a major player in Latin America's mining sector, which has been in operation since 1985. The mine has just nine years left in its lifespan, and its closure, without alternative plans in place, will deal a significant blow to the region's economy. 'You can imagine what this energy transition means to us,' Lanao said. 'This renewable energy sector comes to supply the income that the coal exploitation gives us today in La Guajira.' Developing wind projects in Guajira is key to guaranteeing a reliable supply of electricity in Colombia, says Margarita Nieves, founder of Colombian Offshore Wind Research Network and La Guajira native. Nieves added for La Guajira, it represents an opportunity to have a new industry that will generate employment, position it as a center for the production of goods and services for the wind energy sector, and contribute to meeting the electricity demand of its inhabitants. But the issue is also causing internal friction within the Wayuu community which stems from differing views on economic benefits, with some supporting development for financial gain. The AP spoke to several Wayuu families living near wind turbines who do not oppose the companies operating there, as they have received financial assistance and housing. Others are not convinced. 'An old saying goes that if you've never owned a chicken, manure looks like an egg to you,' Mercado, the Palabrero, said when asked about those in the community who accept help from the companies, which is much less than what he'd consider fair compensation. 'There are many communities that have never had anything. In the midst of so much need, so much crisis, so much hunger, any little penny that they are being offered now seems like a miracle cure and the greatest wealth in the world to them,' he said. New offshore plans also shunned Companies are now carrying out studies for offshore wind farms, which is also enraging the Wayuu, especially traditional fishers, known as Apalanchii. Lanao, of the environmental authority, says just because the project is in the sea, it does not mean the communities do not have influence. The Apalanchii use traditional fishing techniques, with nets, hooks and sometimes spearfishing. It is not only a means of sustenance but also a culturally important activity which they say ties them to their ancestors and the land. 'We are really worried about the offshore wind farms,' said fisherman Aaron Laguna Ipuana, 57, during an early morning fishing trip in Cabo de la Vela with his crew. 'They're going to displace us and the sea is everything to us. It sustains us." Mercado says the government needs to do more to ensure Wayuu people are involved. 'We are concerned that these projects continue and that the government is letting them go ahead, without even coming to say what is going to happen and what is in the interest of the Wayuu people," said Mercado. 'The Wayuu defend their territory with blood and death, if necessary,' he said. At the cemetery, Velasquez, dressed in a traditional Wayuu robe and headscarf, gently strokes and observes the graves alongside her sister and young niece. In the background, the turbine blades continue to turn. 'The nobility of a Wayuu is used by companies,' Velazquez says. 'May they do something good for us ... the way we want it.' ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
