“Here the land is hard and barren, the sky is closer than anywhere else and it is blue and empty. It does not rain, but when the sky roars its voice is terrifying, implacable, angry. On this land, where it is painful breathe, people depend on many gods.” This is how “Fuego en Casabindo” begins, […]
Author: nicolas
Drought in the Argentine Northwest
Can you imagine living without water? No. I´m sure not. In the Argentine Northwest, particularly in the vast and forgotten region of the Gran Chaco, this question is not a hypothesis, it is the daily reality of thousands of people. In Argentina, where more than 50% of the population lives below the poverty line, extreme […]
Carnival
Carnival in the Andes is a vibrant cultural mosaic that fuses ancestral rituals of native peoples with colonial and Christian elements. With the purpose of celebrating the fertility of the earth and paying tribute to Pachamama, an amazing expression of syncretism is generated. The copleros and copleras of Cachi have revived the ancestral rondas in […]
Along the trails of the Puna
Héctor Tizón once wrote: “The Puna is not just a hot and cold lunar desert, it is an experience: silence, loneliness, and helplessness are intensely experienced there.” In the Puna you feel tiny. And sometimes, alone. It can take hours until you meet someone. Between clouds and trails that are sometimes difficult to see, I […]
Day of the Souls in the Calchaquí Valley
The Day of the Souls is part of the ritual agrarian cultural calendar: the Aya Marq’ay Killa (in Aymara), is one of the most important festivities for the Andean world, which believes in a vital force that gives life and lives eternally. It doesn’t die, it transforms. This ritual is a testimony of the deep […]
Wichi Territory
“Ohäpehen honhat lhawo. We are the flower of the earth”. The Wichi people not only have a deep spiritual connection to their ancestral lands but also regard it as their benevolent provider, bestowing abundance upon them. Living as a hunting and gathering society, the Wichi call the vast Gran Chaco region in northern Argentina their […]
Pilcomayo fishermen
The Chorote people have established their communities along the borders of Paraguay and Bolivia, within the Argentine province of Salta. According to the Chorotes, the Chaco forest is not only a physical landscape but also a realm inhabited by diverse supernatural entities that oversee, protect, and care for the region’s flora, fauna, and waterways. Traditionally, […]
Quarantine
The impact of the quarantine on a popular neighborhood From the onset of the pandemic, it was the most marginalized segments of society that bore the brunt of the impact. The informal economy ground to a halt and had to find new avenues for survival. Unemployment rates soared, and education faced an unprecedented challenge. In […]
Grandparents’ home
In Puerta de Hierro, within the Province of Buenos Aires, Father “Tano” dedicates himself tirelessly to improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. The battle against addiction to “paco,” a low-quality cocaine derivative, is an ongoing struggle that demands time and unwavering commitment. One of the initiatives pioneered by Father Tano […]
Valley weaver
“El Colte” is located between the towns of Cachi and Seclantas, in the Argentine province of Salta. It is also known as the “Way of the Craftsmen“. Along the roadside, you’ll find Noemi Pastrana, a dedicated farmer and shepherdess, skillfully working skeins of wool. Noemi’s journey into the world of wool began with her work […]