Symbols of Community
La Wayuu’s Make-Over of la “Alijünas” (non-Wayuú).
By Annika Goldman
After spending a week getting to know the community of Arema and installing a solar system that provides them for the first time with electricity, there was a lighting ceremony. The people were able to see the community center light up, the refrigerator and freezer that will allow for greater longevity of nutritious food, and the television that will connect them with worlds unseen to their eyes, the lights they will weave by, and a whole new world of possibilities. In return, on the evening of July 7, 2022, they shared the beauty of their culture with Alijünas, non-Wayuú people from GivePower and University of Southern California students and professors .
In La Wayuu culture, the life cycle does not end at death. Bodies are typically buried above ground for a year. During this year, the soul heads to the nearby sacred mountains to say their final goodbyes. After this year, the body is exhumed and an important ceremony is performed on the bones before the final burial.
The spiral of soil and earth is surrounded by many dots. These dots symbolize all the steps that the wearer (Maria) of the makeup has and will take in life. For Maria, who works on the GivePower team, these dots also symbolize all the communities she has stepped into and made an impact on through installing solar and water systems.
Mountains play an integral part in Wayuu society. Not only do spirits of those who have passed away go to rest there, but the nearby mountain range of Macuira provides water. Snow from the top of the mountain range melts and flows down into the rivers that cut through La Guajira. This water helps sustain human, plant, and animal life throughout the region. Additionally, these mountains are home to extremely biodiverse ecosystems.
Weaving is an important part of La Wayuu culture as their products provide income and the practice dates back to ancient Wayuu stories.
Wayeki, the first weaver, fell in love with a Wayuu man and they married. When she joined him in his village, his two sisters noticed her weaving and stole it. Wayeki’s husband tried to catch her in the act of sewing because he became skeptical once his sisters came to him. When he saw her weaving, she turned into a spider.
Each family name, such as Ipuana Uribiana, has symbols that represent them. These families may live under the same roof or in houses nearby. A collection of around five to eight homes, often related but not always, make up what is called a Rancheria. These Rancheries are represented by animals — such as pigs or turtles. The leader of Arema, Maria, is part of the Pig Rancheria/family (Pushiana) and chose our trekker who was arguably the most adored by the people of Arema to sport her symbol. The turtle has a great significance in La Wayuu culture as marine turtles are believed to accompany the deceased to a mythological land. The lightning is an additional symbol that speaks to Wayuu tales, as they believe thunder and lightning released life on earth.
Last but certainly not least, our favorite GivePower leader was given the warrior family symbol. This symbol is of a family that just can’t stay out of conflict.
