The Sikuani Way of Life
Have you ever heard of the Sikuani indigenous community in Colombia? The Sikuani people are known as the guardians of nature and believe in the power of dance to transform the world and awaken humanity. In this post, we’ll be diving into the rich traditions of the Sikuani and exploring their unique cultural beliefs.
At the Casa de Pensamiento, the house of thought, which is a place of spiritual healing and growth for the Sikuani, traditional dance leader Leonel and his people dance to find the light and awaken the humanity within each person. This house of thought is a testament to their belief that everything on Earth is alive and that they must ask for permission to use nature’s resources. The Sikuani show their deep reverence and respect for the Earth through this tradition.
Leonel has been listening to the songs transmitted from the sky since he was five years old. These songs come from the Tsamanimonae, the first gods who danced for the creation of mankind, and they hold a special significance to the Sikuani. Therefore the Sikuani not only create through dance, but also heal and awaken love within each person, helping everyone to find their purpose.
The Sikuani were once nomads, but they found refuge in the plains of Colombia away from the dangers of the government, paramilitars, and narcos. Abuelo Clemente, the wisdom keeper of the family, guides the Sikuani and helps to keep their traditions and beliefs alive.
The Journey at the Kaliawirinae Community
Roey and Nadia recently had the privilege of participating in a special ceremony with a Sikuani shaman who traveled from Colombia to share the medicine of Yopo in Ecuador. During this experience, the shaman shared his people’s origin story, which was captivating and beautiful. They felt a deep connection to the Sikuani people and their customs after being enthralled by the tale of the gods who danced for the creation of everything on this planet.
So when the shaman invited them to visit the Kaliawirinae community in Meta-Puerto Gaitan for their annual dance to start the year, they eagerly accepted. Upon arriving on the 5th of January, they were eager to learn more about the Sikuani way of life.
Their first stop was Abuelo Clemente’s Casa de Pensamiento, where they spent six hours learning about the three main plants the Sikuani work with – Caapi, Yopo, and Tobacco – and listening to Abuelo Clemente’s teachings. He spoke about the challenges facing humanity today, including addiction to our devices, the rise in mental illness, and the importance of protecting nature.
Abuelo Clemente also shared that the Sikuani people believe that everything on this earth is alive, and that it is their custom from birth to ask for permission to use the things that God created. He talked about how the Sikuani are guardians of nature and that they dance to awaken humanity and heal mother earth.
“This dance is about forming a new humanity for future generations.”
Nadia and Roey left the experience with full hearts, having met beautiful souls and learned so much from Abuelo and Yopo. Inspired by this, they plan to visit more indigenous communities in the future, in order to support and learn from them as they continue their own personal journeys of healing and growth. For those who are interested, they would love to create more opportunities for the community to come together, grow, and learn.
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