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50-804: The Wayuu inhabit the arid Guajira Peninsula straddling the Venezuela-Colombia border, on the Caribbean Sea coast. Two major rivers flow through this mostly harsh environment: the Ranchería River in Colombia and the El Limón River in Venezuela, representing the main sources of water. They're accompanied by artificial ponds designed to hold rainwater during the rain season . The territory has equatorial weather seasons:

100-505: A chinchorro ( hammock ), and reburied in the clan 's cemetery . A traditional Wayuu settlement is made up of five or six houses that made up caseríos or rancherías . Each ranchería is named after a plant, animal or geographic place. A territory that contains many rancherias is named after the mother's last name; that is, society is matrilineal. The Wayuu congregated in rancherias are usually isolated and far from each other to avoid mixing their goat herds . The typical house

150-502: A loincloth which covers their crotch." The women wear dresses of woven cotton; and the men often wear shirts and pants to protect their legs from desert winds and plants. 12°00′00″N 71°30′00″W  /  12.000°N 71.500°W  / 12.000; -71.500 Municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it

200-618: A Capuchin mission), 1727 (when more than 2,000 natives attacked the Spanish), 1741, 1757, 1761 and 1768. In 1718, Governor Soto de Herrera called them "barbarians, horse thieves, worthy of death, without God, without law and without a king". Of all the Indigenous peoples in the territory of Colombia, they were unique in having learned the use of firearms and horses. In 1769, the Spanish captured 22 Wayuus in order to put them to work building

250-444: A cause of great social shame, specifically for the woman's family's honor and credibility. Men may have multiple wives ( polygamy ). The Wayuu believe that the life cycle does not end with death, but that a relationship with one's bones continues. Burials are very important. The relatives of the dead act in a certain way: first, the body is buried with personal belongings; after five years, the bones are exhumed, put into ceramics or

300-400: A municipality has jurisdiction may encompass: Powers of municipalities range from virtual autonomy to complete subordination to the state . Municipalities may have the right to tax individuals and corporations with income tax , property tax , and corporate income tax , but may also receive substantial funding from the state. In some European countries, such as Germany, municipalities have

350-422: A period of seclusion for anywhere from two months up to two years. Girls are obliged to shave their heads and rest in a chinchorro or large hammock . During this period, Wayuu girls are taught how to be a wife in which a large part consists of cooking and learning the art of crocheting Wayuu bags. She is also fed with a special vegetarian diet called Jaguapi , and bathes frequently. Women play important roles in

400-460: A rainy season from September to December, which they call Juyapu ; a dry season , known by them as Jemial , from December to April; a second rainy season called Iwa from April to May; and a second dry season from May to September. Although the Wayuu were never subjugated by the Spanish, the two groups were in a more or less permanent state of war. There were rebellions in 1701 (when they destroyed

450-450: Is a protected area called National Natural Park of Macuira . Nearby there is also the 80 km Flamingos Fauna and Flora Sanctuary . The peninsula is inhabited mainly by members of the native tribe of the Wayuu , who use the plains to raise cattle, sheep, goats and horses. The descendants of Spanish colonists settled in the southeastern part of the peninsula, sometimes referred to as

500-450: Is a small structure called a piichi or miichi , generally divided into two rooms with hammocks to sleep in and keep personal belongings such purses or mochilas of acrylic fiber and ceramics to keep water. Wayuu culture is known for making Wayuu bags or mochilas . There are many styles of mochilas . A susu is a backpack typically 20 cm-30 cm wide and 35 cm high, used to store personal and work items. Characteristic for

550-482: Is a traditional dance used to honor guests. Girls are taught a dance that is at the heart of the Majayura , the ritual passage of the "young Wayuu virgin". She must dance in a courtship dance ( baile de cortejo ) with prospective suitors. With her head covered and wearing a fabric shawl and dress, the girl dances forward with small steps and arms outstretched, swooping like a bird, within a circle made up of people from

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600-412: Is concentrated primarily in the outskirts of such settlements as Nazareth and Jala'ala, on the plains of Wopu'muin and Uribia, and within the municipalities of Maicao and Manaure , where population densities are some of the highest in the peninsula. This irregular distribution is intimately related to seasonal changes in weather – during the dry season, a significant proportion of the population crosses

650-558: Is part of the Venezuelan Zulia State . The northernmost part of the peninsula is called Punta Gallinas (12° 28´ N) and is also considered the northernmost part of mainland South America. The name Guajira comes from the Cariban languages ; it is the Spanish pronunciation of Wajiira or Wahiira. According to Picon, the word Guajiros was first used in the year 1600 to designate some 200 indigenous families inhabiting

700-403: Is said the Wayuu learned to weave thanks to a mythical spider called Walekeru. This spider would create magical pieces using thread from her mouth. She is the one that taught all Wayuu women to crochet, crocheting hammocks to sleep in, belts for men, shoes, bracelets and Wayuu bags of all different sizes and crochet methods to be used for different purposes. Today, the skill of crocheting has become

750-467: Is subordinate. The term municipality may also mean the governing body of a given municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district . The English word is derived from French municipalité , which in turn derives from the Latin municipalis , based on the word for social contract ( municipium ), referring originally to

800-536: The Antilles have Guajira-Barranquilla xeric scrub . The trade winds cause a resurgence of the deep littoral waters and make the sea more rich in living species on the western side of the peninsula. The northeastern flank of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range acts as a barrier that generates abundant rainfall in its steppes, forming the headwaters of the Ranchería River , the only major river in

850-738: The Manaure Bay (Colombia) to the Calabozo Ensenada in the Gulf of Venezuela (Venezuela), and from the Caribbean to the Serranía del Perijá mountains range. It was the subject of a historic dispute between Venezuela and Colombia in 1891, and on arbitration was awarded to the latter and joined to its Magdalena Department . Nowadays, most of the territory is part of Colombia, making it part of La Guajira Department . The remaining strip

900-766: The Vicariate of La Guajira with friar Atanasio Vicente Soler y Royo as first Vicar, in an attempt to "civilize" the Wayuu people. The friars then created the orphanages for Wayuu children beginning with the La Sierrita orphanage, built in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains in 1903, followed by the San Antonio orphanage, located by the Calancala River , in 1910, and the Nazareth orphanage in

950-432: The yosú cactus. This plant is used for many other purposes: it is planted to create living fences around pastures ; young shoots are fed to goats ; the fruit ( iguaraya ) is similar to pitahaya and is a popular food among the Wayuu. Because the demand for yosú as food and wood is seasonal, at times there is little fruit, building material or even cuttings for fences. It has thus been proposed to develop techniques for

1000-469: The 21st century, the government no longer requires Catholic education for the indigenous peoples. They are allowed to educate their children in the Wayuu traditions and language ( Wayuunaiki ). In the novel Papillon (1970), Henri Charrière writes: "The Goajira Indians are seafarers who fish for pearls . Their primary diet is said to consist of fish, turtle meat, turtle eggs and big green lizards, most likely Iguanas . Men and women are dressed only in

1050-405: The 22 Guajiro. They recognized him and forced his party to take refuge in the house of the curate, which they then set afire. Sierra and eight of his men were killed. This success was soon known in other Guajiro areas, and more men joined the revolt. According to Messía , at the peak there were 20,000 Wayuu under arms. Many had firearms acquired from English and Dutch smugglers, sometimes even from

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1100-527: The Department (including a major one called Carraipia ). In Venezuela, the Wayuu population is estimated at 293,777, according to the 2001 census, with some 60,000 living in the city of Maracaibo. This makes the Wayuu the largest indigenous group in Venezuela, representing 57.5% of the Amerindian population. Wayuu communities are not uniformly distributed within these territories, as their population

1150-621: The Latin communities that supplied Rome with troops in exchange for their own incorporation into the Roman state (granting Roman citizenship to the inhabitants) while permitting the communities to retain their own local governments (a limited autonomy). A municipality can be any political jurisdiction , from a sovereign state such as the Principality of Monaco , to a small village such as West Hampton Dunes, New York . The territory over which

1200-567: The Padilla Province. This has more fertile land, due to the proximity to other river basins, such as the Cesar River basin. It has been developed for large plantations of cotton and sorghum, and for cattle ranching. Since the 1980s the central area of the peninsula was subject to the exploration and exploitation of coal and natural gas in the area of Cerrejón and of oil in the littoral. A popular ecotourism destination in

1250-575: The Serrania de Macuira mountains in 1913, creating a direct influence over the Rancherias of Guarrachal, El Pájaro, Carazúa, Guaraguao, Murumana, Garra patamana and Karraipía, with Nazareth exerting some control over the rancherias of Taroa, Maguaipa, Guaseipá and Alpanapause. The friars constantly visited the settlements inviting the Wayuu to attend mass. Wayuu children in the orphanage were educated with traditional European customs. Conflicts between

1300-526: The Spanish. These enabled the rebels to take nearly all the settlements of the region, which they burned. According to the authorities, more than 100 Spaniards were killed and many others taken prisoner. Many cattle were also taken by the rebels. The Spaniards who could took refuge in Río de la Hacha and sent urgent messages to Maracaibo , Valle de Upar, Santa Marta and Cartagena. Cartagena sent 100 troops. The rebels themselves were not unified. Sierra's relatives among

1350-415: The Wayuu community are made of acrylic threads from companies like Miratex, providing bright hues that will not wash out easily with time as opposed to natural fibers. Weaving and crocheting make up a large part of their daily life, especially for women. Most of the women presently weave or will do it at some point through their lives. The men participate in the industry as well; they make the straps, provide

1400-622: The Wayuu people and the Colombian government decreased since then. In 1942 Uribia celebrated Christmas and New Year's Eve for the first time. According to a 1997 census in Colombia, the Wayuu population numbered approximately 144,003 – representing 20% of Colombia's total Amerindian population and 48% of the population of the Department of La Guajira . The Wayuu occupy a total area of 4,171 square miles (10,800 km) within approximately ten settlements, eight of which are located south of

1450-402: The Wayuu religion is Maleiwa (God) creator of everything, of the Wayuu and the founder of society. Pulowi and Juya , spiritual beings, like demigods, are a married couple associated with procreation and life, where Pulowi is the female figure related to the wind and dry seasons, and Juya the male, is a nomad and related to hunting who is seen as a powerful killer. Wanülu represents

1500-517: The Wayuu to cultivate it. Due to varying supply of yosú wood for construction, other plants are also used, including trupillo or turpío ( Prosopis juliflora ), jattá ( Haematoxylum brasiletto ), kapchip ( Capparis zeylanica ) and kayush ( Peruvian Apple Cactus , Cereus repandus ). Traditional Wayuu music is closely tied to economy and social life. For example, they sing to their cattle. They also use music for meetings and celebrations, as well as mourning rituals during funerals. La Yonna

1550-545: The Wayuu took up arms against the rebels to avenge his death. The two groups of natives fought at La Soledad. That and the arrival of Spanish reinforcements caused the rebellion to fade, but not before the Guajiro had regained much territory. The process of evangelization of the Wayuu people restarted in 1887 with the return of the Capuchin friars under reverend friar José María de Valdeviejas. In 1905, Pope Pius X created

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1600-553: The area is Cabo de la Vela , a headland and village on the peninsula on the Colombia side. The mission of Goajira was carried out since the 1880s by Capuchin friars. It was elevated by Pope Pius X on 17 January 1905, into a vicariate Apostolic , dependent on the Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs . Attanasio Maria Vincenzo Soler-Royo was appointed to the vicariate, as titular Bishop of Citharizum , on 18 April 1907. The early 20th-century missionaries described

1650-462: The area. Climate and vegetation varies from south to north, presenting hyper-humid jungle weather in the southern part (with 3000 mm of rainfall a year) to the desertic areas in the north (300 mm a year). In the northern area, a small range of mountains known as the Macuira reaches 900 m above sea level; they trap some of the trade winds and mist forms. Most of the mountain range

1700-489: The artisans. Guajira Peninsula The Guajira Peninsula [ɡwaˈxiɾa] (Spanish: Península de La Guajira , also spelled Goajira , mainly in colonial period texts, Wayuu : Woumainpa’a ) is a peninsula in northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela in the Caribbean. It is the northernmost peninsula in South America and has an area of 25,000 km (9,700 sq mi) extending from

1750-476: The border into Venezuela to work in the city of Maracaibo and its nearby settlements; once the rainy season begins, these Wayuu tend to return to their homes on the Colombian side. The Wayuu people refer to themselves simply as "Wayuu" and do not acknowledge the term "Indian", preferring instead the term "people". They use the terms Kusina or "Indian" to refer to other ethnic indigenous groups, while using

1800-458: The clan. Traditional musical instruments include kashi , sawawa (a type of flute), ma'asi , totoy and the taliraai (tubular flute), wootoroyoi (a type of clarinet), among others. Wayuu women learn how to weave at a very early age. The Wayuu are descendants of the Caribs and Arawak peoples, largely known for their strong weaving tradition. The Wayuu carry on this traditional weaving. It

1850-534: The community living in the area and the common interest. These include terms: The same terms "Gemeente" (Dutch) or "Gemeinde" (German) may be used for church congregations or parishes, for example, in the German and Dutch Protestant churches. In Greece, the word Δήμος ( demos ) is used, also meaning 'community'; the word is known in English from the compound democracy (rule of the people). In some countries,

1900-400: The constitutional right to supply public services through municipally-owned public utility companies . Terms cognate with "municipality", mostly referring to territory or political structure, are Spanish municipio (Spain) and municipalidad (Chile), Catalan municipi , Portuguese município . In many countries, terms cognate with "commune" are used, referring to

1950-466: The evil spirit being of illness , and death . Children are born at home, assisted by the mother-in-law or the nearest female relative. Priority is placed on the well-being of the child as women prefer to feed children first and follow strict diets when the survival of children is not assured. Puberty is not very important among boys, but girls are exposed to rituals as early as 12 years old or when they start menstruating , requiring them to go through

2000-440: The fabrics are the decorating patterns inspired by nature and what the culture sees around. Living quarters are either rectangular or semi-circular. Close to the main house is a common area called a luma or enramada , similar to a living room but almost in the open. Built of six pillars with a flat roof, it is used for everyday duties and to attend to visitors and business activities. Family members hang their hammocks there for

2050-409: The fortifications of Cartagena. In reaction, on May 2, 1769, at El Rincón, near Río de la Hacha , Wayuu set the village on fire, burning the church and two Spaniards who had taken refuge in it. They also captured the priest. The Spanish immediately dispatched an expedition from El Rincón to capture the Wayuu. This force was led by José Antonio de Sierra, a mestizo who had also led the party that captured

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2100-636: The inhabitants of the area as: "tall and well made. Formerly they were very intractable, but the Capuchins , who were in charge of the Catholic missions, have had a great influence over them, and large numbers have been converted. The chief towns are Paraguaipoa, Calabacito, Maricha, Marocaso, and Soldado, La Guajira." The Capuchins established three major orphanages, where they educated Wayuu children in Catholicism, Spanish, and European culture. In

2150-463: The main source of income for the Wayuu community. Traditionally, Wayuu bags were not as bright and colorful as they are now. Cotton used to be able to grow in the region of La Guajira thus Wayuu bags were made of natural fibers. They were dyed using plants and elements of the natural surrounding, thus took on shades of brown, red and other natural hues. Today, there is a common misconception that Wayuu bags are made of cotton. But all crochet pieces from

2200-435: The materials, and transport the goods to the city centers. The tribe produces millions of high-quality artisan products every year. This artisan weaving industry plays a vital role in the local economy, and the people are known most for the mochila Wayuu or Wayuu Bag. Today, Wayuu bags are the most exported handicraft in all of Colombia. The Wayuu have resented the way that foreigners have profited more from their work than do

2250-406: The noon nap. Traditionally, the walls are made of yotojoro – a wattle and daub of mud , hay and dried canes , but some Wayuu now use more modern construction with cement and other materials. The preferred material for roofing and yotojoro wood is the dagger cactus ( Stenocereus griseus ), which the Wayuu call yosú . The word yotojoro originally referred to the cane-like inner wood of

2300-536: The northern, central or southern zones. Most of the younger generation speak Spanish fluently but understand the importance of preserving their traditional language. To promote cultural integration and bilingual education among Wayuus and other Colombians, the Kamusuchiwo'u Ethno-educative Center, or Centro Etnoeducativo Kamusuchiwo'u , started an initiative to create the first illustrated Wayuunaiki-Spanish, Spanish-Wayuunaiki dictionary. The central figure of

2350-427: The region of Riohacha. They were known for having large herds of goats. The Spanish applied the term to all the indigenous in the peninsula who were goat herders. According to Oliver, the term Guajiro did not appear on Spanish records until the year 1626, in a document by a friar named Pedro Simón. The region receives the flow of the trade winds from the northern hemisphere. The northeastern coast of Venezuela and

2400-463: The society, but it is not quite a matriarchal one. The Wayuu want their women to be wise and mature. Nearly all traditional marriages are arranged and accompanied by a dowry, which is given to the mother's brothers and uncles. Young girls are promised to men of the clan as young as 11 years old, around the time they are becoming of child-bearing age. The perceived intention is to wed her to a man before risking that pregnancy out of wedlock or arrangement,

2450-512: The term Alijuna (essentially meaning "the one who damages") to refer to outsiders or persons of European ancestry. Families in the Wayuu culture are divided into clans, some of which are: The Wayuu language , called wayuunaiki , is part of the Arawak language family predominant in different parts of the Caribbean . There are small differences in dialect within the region of La Guajira :

2500-407: The village. The male dances backward before her, coming close and yielding as they circle around, until he finally falls to the ground. The adult men play traditional drums and musical instruments in their ring around the dancers. If a male is respected in his clan and accepted, he must pay a dowry to the girl's mother and male relatives. This used to be in the form of goats and sheep for the support of

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