Photography by Gobinder Jhitta
words by Daniel Milroy Maher
In the far north of Colombia, nestled in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range, is “the heart of the world.” The term refers to a belief held by the Arhuaco people, an Indigenous group that have lived here for thousands of years. According to their history and cosmology, they, along with their neighbors the Kogi, Wiwa, and Kankuamo peoples, sprung from this site during the creation of the Earth.
As such, they refer to themselves as the Elder Brothers, and to the rest of the world as the Younger Brothers. This distinction arose not just from a difference in age, but from a difference in responsibility. These groups view themselves as the Earth’s caretakers, and woven deeply into their belief system is an obligation to ensure balance between humanity and nature. Fittingly and unfortunately, as the years have passed, we—the Younger Brothers—have shown our immaturity by causing untold damage to the world around us, and now, more than ever before, the Elder Brothers are pressed to carry out their sacred duty.
“Brothers and sisters who live on the Earth, let’s all work together and do something now, as tomorrow will be too late.”
Once an isolated and largely uncontacted group of communities, driven high up the sloping land by war and outside interference, they are now a beacon of hope to those of us seeking answers to the treacherous situation we find ourselves in. Having watched the snow on the peak of their most sacred mountain (the form of which inspired the conical white hats they wear and the name of which is known only to them) slowly retreat due to global warming, the Arhuaco, Kogi, Wiwa, and Kankuamo peoples recognize the need for spreading their message. Since the early 90s, they have begun to allow periodic documentation of their home, their lives, and their rituals of conservation, in the hope that they will inspire their Younger Brothers to adopt a similar mindset.
After learning about the history and wisdom of these groups, photographer Gobinder Jhitta was moved to pursue such an opportunity, and was eventually given permission to visit the Arhuaco and Kogi communities to document their way of life. The resulting body of work is titled Zaku (which translates to “spirit of the mother”). Jhitta photographed the special bond that the Arhuaco and Kogi share with nature, and the earnestness with which they perform their age-old task of protecting it.
“Brothers and sisters who live on the Earth, let’s all work together and do something now, as tomorrow will be too late,” said Calixto Suarez Villafania of the Arhuaco. “The world is altered by the many things that happen within it. All of its people have different philosophical understandings, and see the why and the how differently, but what matters is that we do something. Even something small, like not eating as much meat. The responsibility lies with us all—women, men, girls, boys, and every culture. We must prevent this change of the Earth, because if we continue as we are, its reaction will become stronger and stronger. We must not be frightened by what is happening, we must act and take care of ourselves and be mindful of our habits. It’s time that we change, not the Earth, so please listen to our words.”
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The Elder Brothers’ Warning Call
