“So Bia Drua”: happy land

So Bia Drua, or “happy land” in the Emberá language, is how the indigenous communities of the Uradá-Jiguamiandó Humanitarian Environmental Reserve refer to their territory, located in the department of Chocó, on Colombia’s Pacific coast.

Eight Emberá indigenous communities live in the Reserve: Alto Guayabal, Bidókera Ancadía, Jaibía Coredocito, Dearadé, Ibudó, Padadó, Chansodo, and Uradá. The main waterways flowing through the Reserve are the Ancadía, Jiguamiandó, Uradá, and Tamboral rivers, all branches of the Atrato River, which runs through the entire Chocó department.

The rivers are a vital source of livelihood for the communities in the Uradá-Jiguamiandó Reserve. They fish and use the freshwater for their daily activities. The communities in the Reserve interact harmoniously with the natural environment, gathering medicinal plants, fishing in the river, and caring for their territory.

Despite indigenous communities living in harmony with the environment, external interests continue to prevent them from peacefully inhabiting their ancestral lands. Among the threats faced by the Emberá people, who have suffered numerous human rights violations amidst Colombia’s armed conflict, mega-mining projects stand out.

Aware of the dangers, the communities have opposed extractive projects for decades, knowing that mining severely compromises aquifers, causes pollution of soil, water, and air, and poses a direct threat to biodiversity.

The photos were taken during a visit to the Alto Guayabal community in September 2021.