When the River Speaks: Indigenous Heritage and Environmental Reparation in Post-Conflict Colombia / May 2025

Talk by María Suárez at the conference Decolonizing Cultural Heritage, Sienna, Italy, 5-7 May 2025

Abstract

This paper examines the role of intangible Indigenous cultural heritage in reparative practices towards non-human entities, focusing on the Colombian art collective Minga Prácticas Decoloniales’ project El Útero de Mama Yuma: Mensaje de Agua Dulce a Agua Salada (2022). The project raises awareness about pollution and violence affecting the Magdalena River, emphasizing ancestral Indigenous practices such as pagamento—offerings recognizing the river as a more-than-human ancestor—as vital forms of care and repair. Analyzing the project through critical heritage studies, the paper argues for amplifying silenced Indigenous heritage in Colombia, especially in developing reparative practices for the more-than-human world in the post-conflict context.

Visit the conference website here.