The Kogi people are an indigenous group living in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains of Colombia, a region that has remained largely untouched by outside influences for centuries. The Kogi have managed to keep their culture, traditions and beliefs alive despite the Spanish conquests of centuries ago, making them one of the few ancient civilizations to have survived without any alteration. The anthropologist who studied them in the 1940s and 50’s concluded that although they share some similarities with other native Indian groups in Central and South America, there were enough differences to make them truly unique.
The Kogi refer to themselves as the Elder Brother and view those from outside their world as the Younger Brother; believing that outsiders don’t appreciate or understand the balance needed for a healthy world. In 1990, they decided it was time to speak out about their concerns regarding the health of their sacred mountain, which they call “The Heart of the World”. They noticed that snowfall had stopped coming and rivers were running low – a sign to them that something was wrong with not just their mountain but with planet Earth itself.
This prompted filmmaker Alan Ereira to create his award-winning documentary “From The Heart Of The World: The Elder Brothers’ Warning” which follows Ereira’s journey as he visits Colombia to meet with members of the Kogi tribe in order document their story and gain insight into how their traditional way of life is threatened by changes being brought on by industrialization and modernization. Through interviews, shots of breathtaking scenery, and glimpses into hidden ceremonies among other things, Ereira immerses viewers into this unique culture and allows us to gain a better understanding about how important it is for us all to take care our environment if we hope for mankind’s survival in future generations.
For anyone looking for an eye-opening experience into another world – one where magic still exists – watching From The Heart Of The World is essential viewing!
