The Four Seasons of the U'wa: a Chibcha Ritual Ecology in the Colombian Andes

A beleaguered indigenous population came to the attention of the world in 1997 by threatening mass suicide in a last-ditch attempt to protect their ancestral lands (overlying possible oil deposits) from invasion by outsiders. The U'wa (formerly known as the Tunebo) - a Chibchan-speaking group living on the eastern slopes of the Andes in NE Colombia - are documented in Ann Osborn's pioneering study, here published in English for the first time. She introduces us to the U'wa on their own terms, enabling us to understand them from their own perspective, to place them squarely within the unique ecological setting that is a fundamental part of their being and to appreciate what might motivate them to contemplate such drastic action in the face of an external threat. The life-sustaining annual round of ceremonies described here were undertaken not only for themselves but also on behalf of outsiders: 'If we did not chant, the world would wear out ... it would come down ... we chant for the Whites as well, so that they can continue living in their world...' The contrast between this philosophy and that of our oil-hungry world provides timely cause for reflection.