Hernando Chindoy
area: Indigenous language and spirituality
Key Facts
nationality
Columbiaarea
Indigenous language and spiritualityresidence
Mocoarecommending institution
MQ Wientime period
November 2024 - December 2024Hernando Chindoy was born on January 16, 1971 in the indigenous territory of the Inga people in Aponte, El Tablón de Gómez, Nariño, Colombia. At the age of fifteen, he began his work in defense of biodiversity and human rights, relying on the intelligence of nature and indigenous knowledge to confront and put an end to deforestation, pollution, poverty, hunger and discrimination.
In 1991, he promoted the student organization in his hometown, which was plagued by deforestation, armed conflict and drug trafficking. In 2003, he was elected governor of Inga and in this capacity founded “Wuasikamas” as a political, cultural and spiritual response to peacefully confront these scourges. The initiative was awarded the 2015 Equator Prize and Chindoy was highlighted as one of Colombia's 120 Best Leaders 2011 – 2015.
From 2017 to 2023, Chindoy was the legal representative of the nascent national organization AWAI of the Inga people in Colombia, where he conceived and drove the process of the Pan-Amazonian Indigenous Biocultural University, a new university in the Colombian jungle, among other projects.
During his residency at MQ, Hernando Chindoy will work on his new project, “Ëconeêrã”, a planetary pluriversity that contributes to the healing of the Earth.
Inspired by the spirituality of plants and based on indigenous wisdom, Hernando Chindoy promotes other relationships with the Earth through the knowledge developed by historically excluded populations.
To this end, during his residency at MQ, Chindoy and his family will give lectures on Ëconeêrã, a planetary pluriversity process that he created to help take action from other educational institutions to prevent, counteract and stop the loss of biodiversity around the world, focusing on the dialog between traditional knowledge, indigenous spirituality, science and technology. He invites decision-makers, philanthropists, lawyers, cultural practitioners and scientists from Austria and Europe and hopes for their advice and support.
Hernando Chindoy is a participant of the symposium BECOMING EARTH, which will take place on 15.11.2024 from 16 - 20h at MQ Freiraum.