“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 home, a land crisscrossed by the Pilcomayo and Bermejo Rivers. These vital waterways nurture the lush forests and rugged mountains that collectively form the ‘Impenetrable‘—an environment marked by its challenging climate yet teeming with diverse wildlife and bountiful natural resources.
Regrettably, in recent years, the Salta Government has permitted the wanton deforestation of thousands of hectares of these precious forests, an alarming practice that persists to this day. The relentless march of agribusiness encroaches upon the Wichi’s time-honored way of life, as the vanishing forests obstruct access to the resources that have long sustained this hunting and gathering society.
For the Wichi, the forest isn’t just a resource; it is the very essence of their existence. Their life is intertwined with the forest, and their ancestral heritage deeply rooted in these lands. With the forest and the rivers, they continue to hunt and fish, preserving their rich culture and cherished traditions against all odds.
Salta, Argentina.
© Nicolás Preci
