Sacred Places in the Vaupes–Apaporis Interfluve (Colombia, Amazonia) and the Sociocultural Space of Indigenous Peoples of the Region

Abstract

It can be argued that the sociocultural space of the Vaupes–Apaporis interfluve is perceived by the indigenous people of the Colombian Amazon as sacred. It is marked both with local natural objects related to the mythological tradition of a particular ethnic group, and with large-scale objects having symbolic significance for all autochthonous groups in the region. The latter include the Hirihirimo threshold on Apaporis, which is a pilgrimage destination for the indigenous population. Hirihirimo is a unique natural object which also draws people from other regions, who come specifically to see it. There are disagreements among the local communities over the control of strangers’ access to their sacred sites. The sacred places of the Vaupes–Apaporis interfluve are part of the complex symbolism characteristic of the culture of indigenous population of the Colombian Amazon. The article discusses and examines the part that these places and sites play in the shaping and functioning of the sociocultural space of indigenous groups in the region.