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GUAJIROS (2019)
 

For over ten thousand years, the Wayuu tribe, or Guajiros, has endured in the borderlands of Colombia and Venezuela. This matriarchal community, rich in tradition and resilience, now faces a silent extinction fueled by hunger and institutional neglect.

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Since colonial times, the Guajira region has been exploited for its wealth—gold, pearls, and slaves—later succumbing to paramilitarism and narcotrafficking, leaving a legacy of violence and despair. Today, its people suffer another assault: environmental devastation and human rights violations wrought by El Cerrejón, the world’s largest open-pit coal mine. This mine, operated by multinational giants, has poisoned water sources, leading to a humanitarian crisis. Infant mortality here is five times higher than the national average, and birth defects linked to contamination are rising.

 

Despite these grim realities, I have chosen not to rely on graphic images, which often fail to engage meaningfully. Instead, my work employs stark black-and-white photography and poetic storytelling to highlight the strength of this matriarchal society. Women, central to education, cohesion, and conflict resolution, are often targeted by violence, a calculated effort to weaken indigenous resistance.