Weaving life: Vivencias Paving the Way for The Sistema Ind­ígena de Salud Propia e Intercultural (SISPI) [Self-determined and Intercultural Indigenous Health System] in Colombia's Departamento of Vaupés

Abstract

Colonization adversely affected the health of the Indigenous Peoples in Colombia. The European colonizers stripped these communities of their lands and sought to eliminate them both physically and in identity. Such oppressive colonial frameworks continue to exist, jeopardizing the Indigenous philosophy of "Buen Vivir" [Good Living], a cornerstone for Indigenous health. Nevertheless, Indigenous Peoples in Colombia have ardently advocated for community-based health practices in the face of colonial adversities. Consequently, the creation of the Sistema Indígena de Salud Propia e Intercultural (SISPI) [Self-determined and Intercultural Indigenous Health System] symbolized the Indigenous resistance and resilience to safeguard and apply their ancestral health wisdom. Given the stark disparities in Indigenous health in Colombia, understanding the SISPI process and the relationships among the different actors that are part of it is crucial. Therefore, this research is a collaborative effort to answer the research questions: How can the SISPI support local communities to build or strengthen their health models? Can bridges be constructed between Indigenous and "Western" medicine to provide more comprehensive and culturally appropriate healthcare access to Indigenous communities? And if such a bridge is possible, how could these bridges be built through the SISPI? This research explores the feasibility of establishing connections between various medical systems, focusing on Indigenous health, to integrate Indigenous principles while fostering collaboration and dialogue to inform the ongoing SISPI implementation process further. Specifically, the intention is to provide embodied experiences accompanying the SISPI to inform strategies for improving health services for the Indigenous population in the Departamento of Vaupés. Employing Participatory Action Research principles and Indigenous methodologies through vivencias (embodiment of life experiences) and oral tradition, I emphasize the need to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into mainstream health initiatives. Grounded in vivencias of the actors involved in the SISPI process, the narrative advocates for a comprehensive, intercultural approach to Indigenous health. I utilize a sentipensante [feel-thinker] analysis through Chris Andersen's concept of "density," delving into the intricacies of human vivencias, challenging stereotypical categorizations created by the dominant paradigm about Indigenous Peoples. The research concludes by laying out the different ways density manifests across these vivencias and providing my recommendations, as requested by the elders who contributed to the study.