Indigenous Wayuu Face Challenges from Climate Change and Development Projects in Colombia
The Wayuu people, a semi-nomadic indigenous group living in the arid region of La Guajira, Colombia, are confronting severe challenges due to climate change. The prolonged droughts intensified by changing weather patterns are leading to critical water shortages. This situation is affecting the already strained access to drinking water and resources necessary for their livestock and crops. Irregular rain patterns are causing food insecurity, damaging crops, and jeopardizing the survival of livestock.
The health risks are rising as well, with increased dehydration from heatwaves and extreme weather events leading to flooding and waterborne diseases. Additionally, their lifestyle is under threat from the construction of wind farms launched by corporations and governments seeking to tap into the region’s wind potential.
Traditionally, many Wayuu families live a semi-nomadic lifestyle in simple huts made from straw and mud, raising cattle and goats. They have their own governing system and laws shaped by their cultural practices and spiritual beliefs. However, worsening conditions have forced many to migrate to urban areas or cross borders, deepening their socio-economic struggles. This displacement threatens their traditional ways of life such as farming, fishing, and herding, putting their rich cultural identity—deeply connected to their land—at risk.
In the community of Villa del Sur, near Riohacha, 22-year-old Luciane Mengual, along with her two children, has had to adapt after migrating from Venezuela in search of better opportunities. She and her family live in a makeshift home built from scrap materials, an environment made precarious by recent floods due to intensified rainfall.
In the informal settlement where she resides, basic services such as clean water and sewage systems are non-existent. Heavy winds often damage roofs, further complicating their living conditions. The area, typically dry, is now facing threats of severe floods that disrupt these families’ precarious livelihood.
Rosa Elena González, a 45-year-old Wayuu from Maracaibo, Venezuela, who has lived in Maicao’s informal neighborhood for seven years, speaks of the hardships faced by families in her community. "After the heavy rains, many children fell ill because most don’t have social security," she explains.
In the remote Cabo de la Vela, a heartland of the Wayuu community, local leader Luis Arturo Barliza acknowledges the complexity of developing wind farms in the area. While he supports renewable energy projects, many in his community oppose the companies behind them, fearing exploitation and lack of benefit sharing.
Kelmis María González, a teacher and fellow Wayuu community member, also expresses concern. She highlights how climate change, driven by corporate activities, is destroying their coastal resources and traditional fishing practices. She attributes this crisis not only to environmental factors but also to a disregarding approach from outside cultures that prioritize economic gain over community welfare.
The challenges the Wayuu face illustrate a broader conflict between the need for energy development and the preservation of indigenous rights and environmental integrity. With tension over development projects and the daily realities of climate unpredictability, the Wayuu are at a crossroads—balancing their cultural values with the pressures of the modern world.
As this situation unfolds, it emphasizes the importance of respecting indigenous voices in planning and decision-making processes, particularly when it comes to their land and resources. Solutions must prioritize the well-being of the Wayuu people, allowing them to thrive without sacrificing their cultural heritage or community values.
