Amazon Watch
    Amazon Watch
    Blog Post

    In Pictures: U’wa Majestic Territory

    June 3, 2015 | Andrew E. Miller | Eye on the Amazon

    • The Great Lake, found up in the highlands of the U'wa reserve. Though it remains one of the reserve's largest lakes, the U'wa see it shrinking over time for which they blame climate change. The Bojoba River originates here, one of three affluents for the Arauca River. (Credit: ASOUWA)
    • Sacred waterfall connecting the Great Lake with the Bojoba River. For the U'wa, water is a means of spiritual communication. (Credit: ASOUWA)
    • Arid mountain landscapes - seemingly far away from the lush lowland forests but intimately connected in the U'wa cosmovision. (Credit: ASOUWA)
    • The border between the U'wa reservation and the snow-capped peaks of Guican Mountain. For the U'wa, it is significant of the territorial separation between themselves and the riowa, or non-indigenous people in their language. (Credit: ASOUWA)
    • A treacherous crossing over one of the powerful rivers running through the cloud forests covering much of of lowland U'wa territory. (Credit: ASOUWA)
    • The members of the U'wa elected leadership - wearing the blue ASOU'WA vests here - spend many days each month walking to the 17 U'wa communities and consulting them on the best way forward. This deep communication is a central pillar of U'wa unity and therefore their ability to defend their territory in the face of many external threats. (Credit: ASOUWA)

    Amazon Watch’s longest-running partnership has been with the U’wa people, who live in the remote and magical forest region of northeastern Colombia. The global U’wa campaign – which emerged in the 1990’s just as Amazon Watch was being formed – focused on Occidental Petroleum, also headquartered in the city of our organizational birth, Los Angeles. We joined many other organizations in solidarity and continue to stand with the U’wa nearly 20 years later.

    Today the U’wa continue to face multiple threats that are emblematic of the challenges faced by indigenous peoples across Colombia and beyond: Oil and gas exploration, pipeline infrastructure, coal mining, drug cultivation and the presence of armed combatants in Colombia’s civil conflict. Their tenacious resistance to these threats is legendary – cultural work led by spiritual elders, grassroots protests, legal actions, speaking out in the media and international advocacy, among other strategies.

    The U’wa are an extraordinary people, paralleled by the amazing territory they call home. With this photo gallery – featuring images taken by the U’wa themselves – we hope to take you on a visual journey into the majestic lands they are defending. Not only are these breathtaking landscapes, each of these places holds a profound spiritual and cultural significance to the U’wa.

    PLEASE SHARE

    Short URL

    Related posts from our blog

    The Rainforest Spoke. Amazonian Legislators Listened.

    The Parliamentarians for a Fossil-Free Amazon call for a moratorium on new oil and mining projects – starting with Indigenous territories.

    In the face of inaction and paralysis of countries in making significant progress to address the climate crisis and its principal driver – fossil fuels – a worldwide coalition of legislative leaders has taken matters into their own hands, demonstrating what true climate leadership can look like.

    October 9, 2025
    3,552 views
    3 min read

    Donate

    Amazon Watch is building on more than 28 years of radical and effective solidarity with Indigenous peoples across the Amazon Basin.

    DONATE NOW

    TAKE ACTION

    SIGN THE PLEDGE TO KEEP THE AMAZON FREE FROM EXTRACTION!

    TAKE ACTION

    Stay Informed

    Receive the Eye on the Amazon in your Inbox! We'll never share your info with anyone else, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

    Subscribe