This is Diomedes Izquierdo Mejía, the first Colombian archaeologist from the Arhuaca tribe

“My journey through academic life showed me that the voices of so-called 'minority groups' have been made invisible in the western world,” said Diomedes Izquierdo, a character who marked an unprecedented event in the history of his Arhuaca community: being the first in Colombia to graduate as an archaeologist.

The young indigenous man graduated from this program at the Universidad Externado de Colombia and the ceremony was held on March 24 with an emotional speech in which, in the midst of a broken voice at times, he called on the historical invisibility that the Sierra Nevada community has had in the country,

“I understand and assume a purpose and commitment that is to protect the ancestral territory of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta,” the now archaeologist told the Faculty of Cultural Heritage Studies, dedicating that academic achievement to his community and to the young Arhuacos.

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This dream of Diomedes began in 2015, when he decided to enroll in the Multicultural Interactions program thanks to the advice given by his community masters and, also, let himself be carried away by his desire to become a professional and fill his land with pride. Finally, he decided to join the career that provided 50% of the tuition fee, while Icetex contributes the other 50%.

In the course of his career, Izquierdo realized the importance of recognizing the archaeological work that has been done not only by the Arhuaca community, but also by many of the indigenous peoples in Colombia, emphasizing that this work has resulted in the recognition of various social phenomena and their own ways of knowing the territories maintaining their ancestral traditions.

In dialogue with the Colombian National Radio, Izquierdo acknowledged that its methodology was based on contextual understanding that would allow the development of unconventional values and perspectives, that is, that which was outside of Westernness, so that they could be adapted to the perspectives of the peoples originating and, thus, carrying out an archaeological process that does not involve the invasion of sacred territories and that allows the resignification of indigenous peoples.

Now, with his degree as archaeologist, Diomedes will be responsible for fostering a profession that is profitable for his community, based on the participation of older and young adults who allow the preservation of rituals lost with the new generations in the eagerness to seek and show archaeological advances without the consent of the tribes.

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Diomedes has an important job left in addition to preserving the sacred traditions of the Arhuaco people: working hand in hand with their ancestors, subsequent generations and institutionality for the development of projects that benefit those close to them. In fact, one of its objectives is to compete in the World Cup of Ancestral Practices of Indigenous Peoples, which will be held in Brazil.

In this sense, it will not fail to warn in every possible instance about the difficulties faced by the majority of the inhabitants of its village, such as access to primary and higher education, as well as to the health system, but not only that, but the so-called ones will also focus on the permanence of the values proper to indigenous communities, to leave a legacy and understand the importance of preserving these territories which, beyond globalization, will be sacred.

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