Introducing my Colombia Research Trip that will be taking place July -August 2025 - these are initial ideas / thoughts and concerns that I am exploring prior to being in Colombia and how my heritage explorations, textile workshops and trip plans can be undertaken ethically throughout the month.

Myth of Gualchován, the Mother of the World (Kogui) (Orginating from the area my Grandfather was born)

Author - Humboldt Communications

Publication. June 16, 2014

The Kogui indigenous people of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta believe that before the appearance of the mother of the world, the sea, there was only darkness.

They called the mother Gualchován, who was neither a person nor a known thing; she was aluna, meaning spirit and thought, and she was alone. She decided to create all things; In this process, nine worlds were formed:

1. Mother, Water, and Night

2. Tiger

3. Earthworms and Worms

4. Two other mothers: Sáyagaueye-yumang and Disi-se-yuntaná, and a father: Sai-taná, who knew what people would be like.

5. Mother Eukuáne-yumang, and there were humans without ears, eyes, noses, or ears, but they could speak, and what they said was sai, sai sai (night, night, night).

6. Mother Bunkuánene-nulang and father: Sai-chaká. Here, the owners of the world began to be born, who were initially two: Búnkua-sé (blue) and Bunkua-se (black).

7. Mother Ahúnyiká, where blood formed in the bodies, and more worms were born, without bones or strength.

8. Mother: Kenyajé and father: Ahuínakatana. Other masters of the world were born here (36 in total).

9. Bunkua-sé (whites)

The parents began to displace the water, and there was land, which is water but dry. Thus, other things began to appear.

Region: Caribbean

Community: Kogui

Source: Ocampo L., J. 1999. Colombian Myths. El Áncora Editores. Colombia. 254 p.

Source: Latin American Folktales. Stories from Hispanic and Indian Traditions. John Bierhorst.

Colombia - Heritage and Textiles July 2025