Although approximately 32% of Wayúu people speak Spanish, their native language is called Wayuunaiki. Wayuunaiki is an indigenous language that originates from before the Spanish arrived to colonize Latin America. With its vivid and beautiful words, it helps to describe the unique and spiritual reality of the Wayúu people. Within their community and at home, Wayúu people always speak to each other in Wayuunaiki and only use Spanish to interact with people from outside their tribe. Wayúu children who study in Wayúu territory will also receive classes in Wayuunaiki. Nonetheless, younger generations tend to be fluent in Spanish as they move to cities to look for work. This has caused an increase in recent years of young people who can no longer speak fluent Wayuunaiki as they rarely speak it in their everyday lives. For these reasons, it's important to preserve the beauty of this language and to convey how important it is to express concepts for the Wayúu people for which individual words don’t exist in English or Spanish. That’s why we’ve made a list of some of the most beautiful Wayúu words that you should know so that you can better understand the magic behind this tribe’s culture. 1. Oyonnajaa - to dance a yonna ‘Oyonnajaa’ doesn’t just mean to dance, it means to dance the ‘yonna’, which is a Wayúu tradition that involves a woman playfully chasing a man whilst other members of the tribe play the drums. The man and the woman are usually in traditional dress, and the dance is organized to celebrate a special event such as the birth of a child, a marriage, or marking the end of a young girl’s ‘encierro’. 2. Jolutsü - stars 'Jolutsü’ refers to the stars that light up the skies of the Guajira region at night. Stars are particularly important for the Wayúu people as they are used to guide the way to the best places to go fishing the next day when there are no clouds in the sky. Meet Sarnelis: “Creating Mochilas Fills Me With Joy” 3. Püsia - something sweet ‘Püsia’ in Wayuunaiki means something sweet to taste, which the Wayúu people use to identify things like fruit and sweet corn drinks. Although Wayúu people do not eat fruit very often due to the arid conditions in the Guajira region, when they do, they consume mostly melon and watermelon. They also occasionally enjoy the sweetness of the igüaraya fruit which is a citrus fruit native to the Guajira region. 4. Aa’in - soul, spirit, heart and mind ‘For the Wayúu people, your ‘aa’in’, or your soul, spirit, heart and mind, are completely connected and that is why there is a word in Wayuunaiki that describes all these things and how they can work in unison. For the Wayúu people, if one part of your ‘aa’in’ isn’t well, then the other parts will likely be in the same state. That is why it is important to take care of all parts of your ‘aa’in’ to ensure health and happiness. 5. Aa’inmajaa - to care for ‘The Wayuunaiki word ‘aa’inmajaa’, which means to care for, is especially important for the Wayúu people whose culture is based on caring for others in the community. Many Wayúu women who earn an income through weaving will often use this to care for their children, their extended families, and many others who live in the same community. 6. A’lapüjaa - to dream ‘A’lapüjaa’ is not just dreaming for the Wayúu people, it is when their soul departs from their bodies to wander around and search for meaning. The soul which wanders will enter the realm of the spiritual, and there, ancestors will inform you if there is any member of the community who is unwell or who needs to be cared for. It is another way in which Wayúu people look out for each other. Meet Aminta: “I Have Over 65 Years of Experience as an Artisan” 7. Apüshi - matrilineal wisdom The concept of ‘apüshi’ for the Wayúu people is an essential part of their culture and it refers to when an elder woman passes down knowledge and wisdom to a younger woman. As women are seen to be the carriers of knowledge in the Wayúu community, through ‘apüshi’ they teach younger women about weaving, about ancestral wisdom and about their culture. We mustn't forget the beauty that the Wayúu language, Wayuunaiki is able to convey. Thanks to Wayuunaiki, the Wayúu people are able to express not just words but spiritual concepts that would be very difficult for them to communicate in other languages. Sources: ‘Gastronomía Wayúu engrandece al mayor pueblo indígena de Colombia’ El Tiempo ‘El Wayuumaiki, una lengua con 600.000 hablantes en riesgo de extinción’ Noticias ONU

Religion is the guiding light for billions of people on Earth, all believing in a superior power capable of shaping their worlds. Before Christianity, Judaism and Islam, many indigenous people created their own spiritual practices and beliefs which recognize several different gods personified in both nature and spiritual beings. Although colonialism forced indigenous people to adopt western religions, many communities maintain elements of their pre-columbian beliefs that reflect the magic of their universe. Such is the case of the Wayúu community, who although many practice elements of catholicism due to Spanish colonization in the 16th century, also still believe in the power of nature, ancestral spirits and deities. Here are some facts about the spiritual beliefs of the Wayúu community that you are bound to find interesting. They can help us understand more about the magic of their unique world, where the earth and the rain hold the power of life, and the spirits of ancestors are considered sacred. . 1. The 'Yonna' is the most spiritual ceremony In Wayúu culture, the dance of the 'Yonna' is an ancestral ritual that is celebrated during important moments for the Wayúu community: when crops are harvested, when a harvest is abundant, to thank the Maleiwa (the creator) for something positive in the community and to end the period of confinement after a girl’s first menstruation. This dance involves a woman trying to step on the feet of a man that she is chasing as community members play music on a drum. 2. The 'Yonna' represents fertility As the dance of the 'yonna' represents fertility for the Wayúu community, it is also carried out before a woman gets married, in order to ensure that she will be fertile and able to produce children. The Meaning Behind The Sacred Wayuu Ritual of “El Encierro” 3. Healers are important spiritual beings Within the Wayúu community, healers are considered to be highly spiritual beings due to their ability to communicate with the ancestral spirits who provide them with information about illnesses and their cures. Most healers tend to be women, as they are considered to be more sacred than men in Wayúu culture. However men can also carry this title. 4. Maleiwa is the most important Wayúu deity The Wayúu people believe in the spiritual power of multiple deities, but the most important is Maleiwa, which is the creator of the Wayúu people. Maleiwa is also responsible for the rain, which is of extreme importance in la Guajira as droughts and water shortages are the norm in this region of Colombia. 5. Wayúu babies receive a Catholic and Wayúu ceremony The majority of Wayúu babies are baptized through the catholic church, however they will also receive a traditional ceremony called a ‘Wayúu naming’. As the Wayúu culture is matriarchal, children adopt their mother’s last names rather than their father’s. During this ceremony, the good news of the newly acquired last name is announced to the tribe and celebrated. 6. Marriages and burials are the most important events According to Wayúu tradition, the most important spiritual ceremonies are when two people get married and the burial of the deceased. Marriage is important because it not only brings luck to both families who have now joined together but because it also blesses the family of the bride with riches received from the dowry. Burials are even more important in Wayúu culture because it is a ceremony that transcends into life after death, allowing the remains of the deceased to turn into rain and return to the land of the living to continue the cycle of life. Meet Sarnelis: “Creating Mochilas Fills Me With Joy” Sources “'Yonna' o 'Yonna'’, un baile guajiro” Katherine Vargas Gaitán “Wayúu: origen, historia, significado, economía, y más” Etnias del Mundo

There are around 102 different indigenous communities in Colombia, and each group has its own language, customs and traditions. The Wayúu people are one of the most important of these communities, not just because they represent 20% of Colombia’s indigenous population, but also because they have been able to use the art of weaving to spread love and appreciation for their magical culture around the world. To keep spreading this appreciation for Wayúu culture, here are some curious facts about the Wayúu people that you may not know: 1. Dreams are as important as reality The world of dreams in Wayúu culture is considered to be equally important as conscious reality, and whilst the Wayúu are dreaming, the deity of sleep, ‘lapü’ visits them to transmit important messages about the meaning of life. Dreaming is also used by the Wayúu people to detect illnesses within their communities and search for answers to life’s challenges. 2. Living beings consist of 3 parts Wayúu mysticism sees each living being as consisting of three components: the body, the soul and the bones. When a person leaves the universe of the living, they must be buried twice as the Wayuu believe this allows the creators of the universe to turn their remains into rain. Transforming into rain allows them to return to the universe of the living and help cultivate new life. 3. Maternal knowledge is highly respected The Wayúu people use the concept of ‘apüshii’ to express the act of female elders passing down knowledge to young girls in their community. Mothers, aunts, grandmothers and community members who engage in this practice are also referred to as the ‘apüshii’. What are Kanaas? Symbology in Wayuu Bags 4. Spirits hold powers of life and death Within the Wayúu community, the spirits of people who have passed are considered to be sacred and are referred to as ‘pülasü’. These spirits are believed to hold great powers of both life and death, of health and sickness. The ‘pülasü’ can be contacted through dreams where both the universe of the living and the dead collide. 5. Wayuú people speak Wayuunaiki The native language of Wayúu people is called Wayuunaiki although approximately 32% of the population also speak Spanish. For the Wayúu community, maintaining their language is of extreme importance as it allows them to express their unique reality in a more descriptive way. Within their community and at home, they always speak to each other in Wayuunaiki and they only use Spanish to interact with people from outside their tribe. 6. The Wayuú tribe is a matriarchal tribe The Wayúu community has a matriarchal culture. This is not only because the majority of Wayúu women are the main economic providers but also because the women are the carriers of ancestral knowledge. Very few men learn to weave as this task is passed down to women during the ‘encierro’ or rite of passage into womanhood. As a result, women tend to have more financial power thanks to the income earned through their art. 7. Souls can come back to haunt a community It is said that sometimes the spirit of the recently passed can have difficulty reaching the universe of the sacred if they don’t pass peacefully. These souls are referred to as ‘yoluja’ and can return to the universe of the living to steal souls at night. In order to deter the ‘yoluja’, Wayúu women will bathe their children in tobacco, helping to deter the evil spirits from harming their little ones. Meet Guillermina: "I am passionate and proud of my craft" 8. Wayúu people have their own territory Wayuu people govern their own autonomous territory that extends over the north-east of Colombia and the north-west of Venezuela. However, as their loyalties lie with their community, they don’t consider themselves as Colombian or Venezuelan, but simply as Wayúu. Many Wayúu people have family in both Colombia and Venezuela and it is normal for them to cross the border on a daily basis. 9. Their souls wander whilst they sleep For the Wayúu people, when they are in a state of sleep known as ‘alapüjawaa’, their soul will wander in order to search for the meaning of life. But they must be careful because if the soul wanders for too long, this can cause illness and it is thought that if a person in their sleep wanders past the realm of illness, they will enter the realm of death. This will cause their soul to forever wander, unable to get back to the universe of the living. 10. Plants are respected living things The Wayúu people distinguish material things from things that possess ‘energy of life’. According to their mythology, not only do humans possess ‘energy of life’ but plants and animals as well. This means that they also possess the energy of death, and must be respected due to the power they hold to influence the health of other living beings around them. 11. Young girls weave hammocks first When young Wayuu girls begin learning how to weave starting their first menstruation, they usually learn to weave ‘chinchorros‘ or traditional hammocks, even before they learn how to make mochila bags. The reason for this is that ‘chinchorros‘ are considered highly spiritual and important items in Wayúu culture as they are used for working, socializing and most importantly dreaming, allowing them to reach another realm. The Meaning Behind The Sacred Wayuu Ritual of “El Encierro” 12. Speaking about dreams is important One of the most important aspects of Wayúu culture is to speak about dreams. As dreams transmit messages from the spiritual universe to the living universe, many Wayúu people begin their day asking ‘jamaya pü’lapüin?’, or ‘how was your dream?’ as a greeting. Understanding the mystic universe of the Wayuu people helps us to see the world through a new set of eyes. We all search for answers to the unknown, and the Wayúu’s dream world and respect for the ‘energy of life’ is a beautiful answer to that for which we have no explanation. In each and every Wayuu bag, we hope to transmit this magical energy to you and to transport you to a place where dreams reign infinitely. Sources “Make Dreams” A Wayuu Perspective, Carmen Laura Paz Reverol “El Pueblo Wayuu”, Organización Nacional Indígena de Colombia “Los Wayuu”, Ministerio de Minería y Energía de Colombia

Wayuu women have always had an important role in their community and have continuously participated in the development of their tribe. In Wayuu culture, women traditionally care for the home and while the man fishes or takes care of the cattle. But apart from the day to day chores, the real beauty the Wayuu indigenous tribe are the women's handicrafts. CRAFTS Geometric figures are part of the Wayuu symbology and a visible characteristic which can be seen in their fabrics and ceramics. The art of wayuu patterns transcends through hammocks, bedspreads, carpets, bags, backpacks and comosora (traditional shoes). Wayuu people don’t leave anything to waste as they recycle fruit shells to make cups, maracas, ladles and spoons typically used in the kitchen. PASSAGE TO WOMANHOOD Women are given great importance within the wayuu indigenous community. When a girl is born, a large feast is held to celebrate her birth in the community. The Wayuu people believe that the birth of a child is a blessing from the gods. A wuyunquera or doll is the first toy a Wayuu girl receives. These wuyunquera dolls are made of raw clay with the head of a turtle or lizard. This is so, because to give it a human face would be disrespectful towards their elders. Childhood is short lived as a Wayuu girl's passage into womanhood begins when she starts her first cycle. from that moment on, she starts her journey to become a woman. Leaving her wuyunquera dolls behind, she is secluded to her room for a period of about a year, where she will start her preparation for marriage. During her year of solitude, no one can visit or see her. The only people she will be able to have contact with are her mother and grandmother, whom will be in charge of feeding, caring and teaching the teenage girl. After having completed her year of seclusion in preparation for marriage, she emerges of her house in a traditional red outfit, symbolizing her entrance to womanhood. MARRIED LIFE After a year of seclusion, a Wayuu woman is now ready to be wed and suitors will offer dowry to the bride’s parents. This is used to prove that the groom will be able to care for the bride and their family. When the right suitor is found, the bride’s parents will give away their daughter along with goats and cattle for the husband to care for and multiply. This entire process serves to strengthen household assets. The dowry paid is used as a backup in case anything should happen and the wedding must be dissipated, or the bride can't respond for herself her children.