Minga of thought in the Inga Indigenous Resguardo of Blasiaku

On 13 and 14 May 2023, at the Inga Indigenous Reservation of Blasiaku, ACIMVIP convened a minga de pensamiento to characterize the context and analyse risk, with the support of the Norwegian Human Rights Fund, within the framework of the project «Baitawami kincharirkani, waira mana iaikungapa» («I protected myself with a shawl, so that the wind would not get in»). Thirty-seven people took part, according to the attendance record.

The context was characterized by identifying community activities, relevant local, regional and national events and security incidents of the previous two years; for the risk analysis, the community identified its capacities, its vulnerabilities and the capacities to be strengthened, in order to learn about protection strategies and formulate prevention and self-protection plans. Among the capacities to be strengthened, Blasiaku pointed to the revitalization of the mother tongue, motivating young people and children to train as guardians of Mother Earth, strengthening women leaders, signage for the land parcels, and traditional dress. The results of the analysis are for the restricted use of the community and ACIMVIP.

The Blasiaku minga was one of the five mingas de pensamiento of this kind held in May 2023 in Nukanchipa Taita Kausadiru, Blasiaku, San Miguel de la Castellana, Cachiacu Andaki and Albania, in which the Authorities, Chaskis, Wasikamas and women leaders strengthened their protection and self-protection capacities through the practice of the law of origin, spirituality, Inga culture and self-determination. A total of 117 people took part in the five, 70 of them women.