Who is Ni'Kuma?

The official governing body of Pueblo Arhuaco

By contributing to this fund, you are supporting --

The Ni'Kuma Operation Costs
- Covering travel logistics needed for necessary meetings with the Mamos, territorial meetups, and site visits.

By covering their logistic costs, you are supporting --

Empowering Indigenous Leadership and Cultural Sovereignty
Land Conservation and Regeneration – Preserving forests, restoring watersheds, and halting extractive activities within sacred boundaries.
Community Empowerment – Strengthening indigenous governance, ensuring land rights, and amplifying the voices of the Mamos and their communities.
Cultural Preservation – Safeguarding ancestral knowledge and traditions that offer a blueprint for living in balance with nature.
Global Regeneration Models – Building regenerative production zones and circular economies rooted in the Sierra, serving as a model for bioregions worldwide.

Why is this important?

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta – The Beating Heart of the World

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is more than just a mountain range – it is the spiritual and ecological heart of the world. Rising abruptly from the Caribbean coast to snow-capped peaks at over 5,700 meters, it is the highest coastal mountain on Earth. This region cradles the four original peoples – the Arhuaco, Kogui, Wiwa, and Kankuamo – guardians of ancestral knowledge and stewards of the land. Their presence and practices are deeply tied to the balance of the Earth, making this bioregion one of the most important for planetary regeneration.

The Mamos – the spiritual leaders of these indigenous communities – understand the Sierra as the Heart of the World. According to their teachings, the health of the Sierra reflects the health of the planet. The rivers flowing from the peaks act like arteries, nourishing vast ecosystems that extend far beyond the region. When the heart suffers, so does the body – and today, the Sierra Nevada is under siege.

A Region Under Threat

For over 500 years – and with increasing intensity in the last 80 – the Sierra has faced relentless deforestation, mining, pollution, and exploitation. The so-called “Black Line,” which traces the sacred boundary of the indigenous lands, is now a frontline for extractive industries and illegal activities. This continuous degradation disrupts not only local biodiversity but the energetic balance that sustains global ecosystems.

Massive deforestation strips the land, threatening rare and endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. Mining operations carve into the mountains, poisoning rivers and displacing communities. Unregulated agriculture and development encroach further each year, unraveling the delicate threads that hold this living system together.

A Global Responsibility

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta has been recognized as part of the Patrimony of Humanity – a designation that highlights its profound significance not just for Colombia, but for the entire planet. The knowledge held by the Mamos and the indigenous peoples is invaluable, representing thousands of years of wisdom in maintaining harmony between humans and nature.

The work we undertake here has global ripple effects. The Sierra Nevada is not just a Colombian treasure – it is a cornerstone of planetary health. Preserving it is a vital step in safeguarding the patrimony of humanity and ensuring that the knowledge of the original peoples continues to guide future generations.

In protecting the Sierra, we protect the Heart of the Earth – and in turn, secure the future of us all.

Ni'Kuma Operation Fund

By Sun Nation

Ni'Kuma Operation Fund

Empowering Indigenous Leadership