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45-560: The Kogi language belongs to the Chibchan family . The Kogi people are descendants of the Tairona culture, which flourished before the times of the Spanish conquest . The Tairona were an advanced civilization which built many stone structures and pathways in the jungles. They made many gold objects which they would hang from trees and around their necks. They lived similarly to modern-day Kogi. Before

90-576: A fifth dimension to the cosmic universe. The central point holds great significance to the Kogi. It represents the center of the universe, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta . During the ceremony, this is the point where the mamo buries the four sacred offerings and "speaks with god". In the center of the circle, he places a tiny stool upon the spot where he receives and answers questions of the cosmic universe. In Kogi cosmology, they have added three dimensions to

135-591: A high altitude belt of montane grasslands and shrublands interspersed with marshes and acid bogs, occupies the zone between 3,300 and 5,000 m (10,827 and 16,404 ft). The Santa Marta Páramo is the northernmost enclave of Páramo in South America, which occur along the Andes belt. Above 5,000 m (16,404 ft) lies the permanent snow cap. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park ( Spanish : Parque Nacional Natural Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta )

180-485: A large hut called a nuhue ("temple") where only men are allowed. In the nuhue, many things are discussed and decisions are made. Divination and concentration also occur in these temples. Women are not allowed because the Kogi believe that women are more connected to the Great Mother and have no need of entering the temple. There are also women priests in the villages. All consultations are done with mamos , and many of

225-561: A lizard; Atractus sanctaemartae , a snake; and Lepidoblepharis sanctaemartae , a lizard. The range is home to about 20 endemic bird species. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is home to the remnants of the Native American Tairona Culture ; Arhuacos , Koguis , Wiwas and Kankuamos , that live in Resguardos Indigenas (indigenous reserves) located in the mid-highlands. For the last ten years, access to

270-523: A powder of heated and crushed shells. The men also continuously chew coca leaves, a tradition followed by many indigenous tribes to connect them to the natural world. As they chew the leaves, they suck on the lime powder in their poporo s, which they extract with a stick, and rub the mixture on the gourd with the stick to form a hardened layer or crust. The size of this layer depends on the man's maturity and age. Kogi men and women all carry traditional bags across their shoulders. Only women are allowed to weave

315-501: A sequel to the BBC 1990 documentary From the Heart of The World: Elder Brother's Warning , presented by Ereira himself. In it, they voice their concern to the people of the modern world (Younger Brother) about reckless ecosystem alteration and tomb desecration as a cause of climate change and world destruction. Kogi language Kogi (Cogui), or Kagaba (Cágaba) ( Cogui : Kággaba ),

360-443: A string at the waist. Women's clothing consists of a single length of cloth wrapped around their bodies as a dress. The Kogi all wear only pure white clothing. They say that white represents the Great Mother, and therefore the purity of nature. The Kogi live in a series of villages, called Kuibolos, containing circular huts made of stone, mud, and palm leaves. Men live in a separate hut from the women and children. Each village contains

405-510: A while serves as a justification for the existence of good. These natural opposites are a way to keep the society balanced or "in agreement" ( yuluka ). The two hemispheres are then divided into four segments: North/South/East/West. Within these four points of reference, the Kogi have associated the orientation of their religious framework into South/East as good/light and North/West as evil/dark. This cosmic structure has influenced four entrances to each village, four principal clans, and has divided

450-586: Is Colombia 's second oldest national park , established in 1964. It is located in the Cordillera Oriental range , between the departments of La Guajira , Magdalena and Cesar , in the mountain range of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is a sanctuary as well as a tourist attraction, because it offers different climate, terrain, flora and fauna environments, ranging from beaches to snowy mountain peaks. Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park

495-400: Is bilateral inheritance of these items. There is also the normal parallel descent of personal items, including ritual objects which are male property and descend patrilineally . But certain rights, names or associations descend matrilineally . Common crops of trade are sugar and coffee. Much of the sugar is turned into "panela," a type of Colombian hardened brown sugar. The women do most of

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540-432: Is 4,000 mm (157.5 in) at elevations of 500 to 1,500 m (1,640 to 4,921 ft). The temperature varies between 0 and 27 °C (32 and 81 °F). The tropical rainforest is made up of perennial trees, with a canopy reaching between 30 and 40 m (98 and 131 ft). There is a great variety and large populations of epiphytes and lianas , and more than 3,000 species of vascular plants are found in

585-560: Is a Chibchan language of Colombia . The Kogi people are almost entirely monolingual, and maintain the only unconquered Andean civilization . This article related to the Indigenous languages of the Americas is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (English: Snow-Covered Mountain Range of Saint Martha )

630-483: Is a transitional forest zone of smaller trees and palms. Cloud forests occur above 1,000 m (3,281 ft); the Sub-Andean forests from 1,000 to 2,500 m (3,281 to 8,202 ft) form a canopy 25 to 35 m (82 to 115 ft) tall, while the higher-elevation Andean forests, between 2,500 and 3,300 m (8,202 and 10,827 ft), grow to 15 to 20 m (49 to 66 ft) in height. The Santa Marta Páramo ,

675-613: Is also home to the remnants of the Tairona Culture . In 1979, the park was designated a Biosphere reserve by UNESCO . A 2013 report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature on the world's most irreplaceable protected areas identified the park as the most irreplaceable park in the world for threatened species. It is composed of Cretaceous metamorphic rocks (predominantly schists and gneisses ) and quartzdioritic intrusives of Tertiary age. The Quaternary of

720-738: Is an isolated mountain range in northern Colombia , separate from the Andes range that runs through the north of the country. Reaching an elevation of 5,700 m (18,700 ft) just 42 km (26 mi) from the Caribbean coast, the Sierra Nevada is the highest coastal range in the tropics, and one of the highest coastal ranges in the world, being 250 metres (820 ft) shorter than the Saint Elias Mountains in Canada. The Sierra Nevada encompasses about 17,000 km (6,600 sq mi) and serves as

765-541: Is blessed to ensure fertility; and ceremonies are offered to the various spirits of the natural world before tasks such as harvest and hut building. Since the Spanish Conquistadors , mamos have remained isolated from the rest of the world. In order to preserve their traditional way of life, they rarely interact with the modern world or with outside civilization. Outsiders are not allowed in their ancestral lands. Only men may interact with outsiders. Mamos say that

810-404: Is considered a unique place in the world, due to its isolation from the Andes, and its highest peak (5,700 metres (18,701 ft) above sea level) is located just 42 kilometres (26 mi) away from the sea. All the water courses that originate in the national park drain to the Caribbean sea whether directly (e. g. rivers Ranchería, Don Diego, Palomino, Buritaca, Guachaca, Cañas, etc.) or through

855-470: Is weakening "The Great Mother" and leading to our destruction. Like many other indigenous tribes, the Kogi honor a holy mountain which they call "Gonawindua," otherwise known as Pico Cristóbal Colón . They believe that this mountain is "The Heart of the World" and they are the "Elder Brothers" who care for it. They also say that the outside civilization is the "Younger Brothers" who were sent away from The Heart of

900-525: The Magdalena River system that includes the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta , (e.g. rivers Cesar , Ariguaní, Fundación, Frío, Aracataca, etc.). Roughly 1.2 million people are dependent upon the freshwater supplied by the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta rivers. There are currently about 30,000 indigenous people of the ethnic groups Koguis , Arhuacos , Kankuamos and Wiwa living in the area. This park

945-434: The embayments front alluvial valley deposits. The bay shores are typically steep, reflective beaches composed of very coarse sand to granules eroded from adjacent cliffs and alluvial deposits. Wide pocket beaches and tombolos are common along sectors with abundant rocky erosional remnants and stacks . Three species of reptiles which are native to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta are named after it: Anolis santamartae ,

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990-460: The 5,775 m (18,947 ft) elevation that is often quoted. The Sierra Nevada is a compact group, relatively small in area, and completely surrounded by lands with elevations below 200 m (660 ft). Although it is associated with the Tropical Andes , the main backbone of the Andes cannot be reached from the Sierra Nevada without dropping below this level. This makes its highest point

1035-401: The Kogi people. In this tribe, death is not viewed as a tragic event but as a "fulfillment of life". The burial process usually lasts approximately two hours and is performed without prayers and chants. To an outside viewer, the ritual might seem simple or without depth for such a spiritual tribe. However, these funerary customs have philosophic concepts and deeper meanings beyond the dimension of

1080-440: The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is mainly represented by colluvial - alluvial valley fill and by recent beach deposits. The coastlines of the northwestern part of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta are indented, reflecting the alternation of rocky headlands and deep, north-northwest trending tectonically controlled bays. The headlands are typically 100-to-150 m (330-to-490 ft) cliffs cut into schists and granites , whereas

1125-418: The Sierra Nevada into four sections. Following this concept, the Kogi have structured the ceremonial houses and sacred offering sites into four quadrants. In the ceremonial house, a line is drawn down the middle of a circle, which divides the men into a left side where men "know more", and a complementary right side of men who "know less". The four lines separating the four quadrants meet in the center, creating

1170-574: The Spanish conquistadors arrived, the Tairona were forced to move into the highlands when the Caribs invaded around 1000 CE. Their new area proved strategic when the Spanish entered in the 15th century. Later, missionaries came and also began to influence their way of life, building chapels and churches amidst their villages to train and convert the locals. In the years since, the Kogi have remained in their home in

1215-401: The World long ago. From birth the Kogi attune members of their society called mamo s ("sun"), for guidance, healing, and leadership. The mamos are tribal priests, highly respected in Kogi society, and are not shamans or curers. To assume this role, Mamos undergo strict training. It begins when selected boys are taken at birth and put in a dark cave until age 9. In the cave, elder mamos and

1260-484: The area. The indigenous peoples made an alcoholic beverage from fruits of the palm Attalea maripa found at the lower elevations. Of Colombia's 340 endemic species, 44 are found in the park, for example seven species of endemic hummingbirds. Of the 3,057 endangered species, 44 are found here. The area is home to 440 species of birds, including black-fronted wood-quail , king vulture , Andean condor , Santa Marta warbler and Santa Marta parakeet . Mammals found in

1305-413: The bags. Many of the things carried inside a bag are secret and known only to the owner. Bags carried by Mamos contain sacred traditional objects. When two Kogi men meet, the customary greeting is to exchange handfuls of coca. Kogi men and women alike have simple modes of dress. Women pick, card, and spin wool and cotton; men weave it into cloth. Men's clothing consists of a tunic and simple pants tied with

1350-514: The balance of the earth's ecology has been suffering due to modern-day devastation of resources by Younger Brother. Mamos in turn believe that their work as Elder Brother is instrumental for prolonging and protecting life on earth. To prevent further ecological catastrophe and destruction, the mamos broke their silence and allowed a small BBC film crew into their isolated mountaintop civilization to hear their message and warning to Younger Brother. The subsequent messages and warnings were voiced in

1395-484: The child's mother care for, feed, train, and teach the child to attune to "Aluna" before the boy enters the outside world. Through deep concentration, symbolic offerings, and divination, the mamos believe they support the balance of harmony and creativity in the world. It is also in this realm that the essence of agriculture is nurtured: seeds are blessed in Aluna before being planted, to ensure they grow successfully; marriage

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1440-536: The decisions are based on their wisdom and knowledge. Many Kogi marriages are arranged by mamos to ensure fruitful communities. Marriages are not forced, and the buying or selling of women is not permitted, although women as young as 14 marry and bear children. The Kogi do not allow the mistreatment of women, and it is not uncommon to find marriages that were not arranged, but the Kogi also disapprove of breaking arranged marriages. Fields, houses, and livestock are passed from mother to daughter and from father to son, which

1485-466: The documentary From the Heart of The World - The Elder Brother's Warning on YouTube . After the documentary was filmed, the mamos returned to their work in isolation and asked outsiders not to come to their land. The Kogi soon realized that their warning had not been heeded by Younger Brother, and instead, as they had predicted, many catastrophes occurred and the natural world continued to be devastated even more rapidly. 20 years later, they contacted

1530-455: The highest summits has been very difficult, and this situation continues, [1] although there is a documented ascent of Pico Cristóbal Colón in December 2015. This was due to opposition from locals in the southern side of the mountain to aid and allow climbers to explore the place. Their aid and permission is important for success in the summit. Armed turmoil has also proven to hinder access to

1575-472: The lower-elevation dry forests and xeric shrublands, and have large numbers of endemic species. The montane forest ecoregion has several distinct plant communities, distinguished by altitude and rainfall; moist lowland forests cover the windward northern and western flanks of the range between 500 and 900 m (1,640 and 2,953 ft), and the drier eastern and southern flanks from 1,000 to 5,800 m (3,281 to 19,029 ft). Above 900 m (2,953 ft)

1620-506: The mountains, which allows them to escape the worst effects of colonisation and aids them in preserving their traditional way of life. The Kogi base their lifestyles on their belief in "Aluna" or "The Great Mother," their creator figure, who they believe is the force behind nature. The Kogi understand the Earth to be a living being, and see humanity as its "children." They say that our actions of exploitation, devastation, and plundering for resources

1665-590: The park include: tapir , cougar , jaguar , squirrel , Transandinomys talamancae , otter , and brocket deer . The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is home to a number of ecoregions , which vary with elevation. The Guajira–Barranquilla xeric scrub region lies near the Caribbean seacoast to the north of the range. The Sinú Valley dry forests cover the range's lower slopes, up to an elevation of 500 m (1,640 ft). The Santa Marta montane forests lie above 500 to 800 m (1,640 to 2,625 ft). The montane forests are separated from other moist forests by

1710-460: The planting of the vegetables, but farming is a responsibility of the whole family. The Kogi practice agriculture using slash-and-burn farming methods; each family tends farms at varying altitudes of the Sierra, producing a variety of crops to satisfy their needs. They also raise cattle on the highlands. The Kogi starred in and helped film-director Alan Ereira make the 2012 documentary film Aluna ,

1755-405: The same filmmaker to give one final message. They made a documentary film called Aluna , where they give a second warning and say that they have chosen to share their secret sciences with Younger Brother so that Younger Brother can help change the world for the better. Traditional Kogi religion is closely related to the structure of the cosmos that exists in dualistic expressions. The sun separates

1800-524: The source of 36 rivers. The range is in the Departments of Magdalena , Cesar and La Guajira . The highest point of the Sierra Nevada group (and Colombia in general) may be either Pico Cristóbal Colón or Pico Simón Bolívar , both in the municipalities of Santa Marta and Aracataca ; it has yet to be determined which is higher. SRTM data and local topographic maps show that their true elevations are approximately 5,700 m (18,700 ft), lower than

1845-455: The standard N/S/E/W: Zenith , Nadir and the Center. This fixed system of points resembles an egg, and is formulated into nine stages/layers of development. Mother Goddess, the creator of the universe and humankind, created the cosmic egg. The horizontal layers of the egg are divided into two sections of four worlds with humankind (the 5th layer) residing in the center. The cosmic egg also represents

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1890-412: The universe into two hemispheres: the east/west and consequently a right/left. The Kogi use this dualistic notion to elaborate on a number of earthly divides: man/woman, male/female, heat/cold, light/dark, and right/left. Each of these groupings are complementary opposites. Within each pair, one cannot survive without the other. In the case of good(right)/evil(left), the Kogi believe committing a sin once in

1935-428: The uterus of Mother Goddess and the Sierra Nevada. Because of this, the Kogi have built the structure of the ceremonial house as a replica of the cosmos. The Mamos participate in various rituals to celebrate the individual's life cycle from birth to death. These ceremonies include offerings, dances, and other ritual affairs. Although every life cycle is celebrated, emphasis on burial customs has been of much importance to

1980-490: The western world. Burial rites are an act of "cosmification". When a person dies, the Mamos return him/her back to the uterus of Mother Goddess. The list below dictates eight components of the burial ritual analyzed by anthropologist Gerardo Reichel-Dolmatoff . The Kogi have many distinct traditions. For example, all Kogi men receive a poporo when they come of age. A poporo is a small, hollow gourd filled with lima ("lime"),

2025-468: The world's fifth most prominent summit. Several peaks in the Sierra Nevada are intervisible with Cerro Paramillo , a 3,730 m (12,240 ft) peak in Antioquia Department . This implies a theoretical direct line of sight of just over 500 km (310 mi), reported to be the longest between any two points on the surface of the Earth. It is calculated that the yearly average rainfall

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