Conferences

The Word that Flies with the Guayalak

Bird Photographed by @heilerunaturephotography

Conferences
Salento Bird Fair 2025

The Word that Flies with the Guayalak

At the Salento BirdFair 2025 – Ancestral Essence, birds are not just observed, listened to, or admired: they are understood as masters of the land, as messengers between worlds, as living symbols of memory, identity, and balance. Therefore, this year's conferences are a sacred space where words become song, knowledge is sown, and ancestral wisdom finds echo in every invited voice.

From the Mayan jungles to the Nariño moors, from the Arctic tundra to the Quimbaya land, we are joined by indigenous scholars, community leaders, ornithologists, artists, and guardians of life who share worldviews in which birds are part of the soul of the land.

Each talk honors the diversity of knowledge and recognizes the power of birds in traditional medicine, art, rituals, spirituality, and science. Each encounter is an act of deep listening, of respect for roots, of dialogue between worlds that converge in the flight of the Guayalak.

This series also celebrates the leadership of the Condoritos Club, young bird guardians whose fresh and committed outlook reminds us that the future is built on joy, curiosity, and collective purpose.
May every word be a seed, may every story connect us, may every flight remind us that we are part of something bigger. Welcome to all voices that care for life.

Registration

Marlo García – Quiché Maya People (Guatemala)

Conference: Birdwatching in the Mayan Cities

The Mayan Rainforest protects a wealth of archaeological treasures, which describe our past and ancestral knowledge of the Mayan culture. Today, the Mayan Rainforest is a refuge for millions of birds, including Neotropical and boreal forest birds, which use this forest for winter survival and as transit areas (Important Bird Areas (IBAs)).
During the exploration carried out by archaeologists in different cities, birds appeared as part of the worldview and inspired an eccentric art form represented in murals, ceramics, and sculptures.

Specialized birdwatching guide with 21 years of experience leading groups in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, combining Maya archaeology, nature, and wildlife in Guatemala's national parks and archaeological sites.

Jose Luis Pushaina – Wayuu People (La Guajira, Colombia)

Conference: Maleiwa “What exists in the Wayuu world”

Maleiwa, the creator of the universe, humans, animals, and natural phenomena. In the Wayuu worldview, birds play a profound symbolic role, laden with spiritual, cultural, and social meanings. Birds are considered messengers between the world of the living and the dead, bearers of omens, bridges of spiritual change, guardian spirits, and minor deities. Through birds, respect for nature, observation of the environment, and ancestral wisdom are taught.

Community leader and Director of Guajira Birding. Specialized bird guide for northern Colombia, on the Northern Colombia Birding Trail, in the Magdalena region (Salamanca National Park, Minca, El Dorado, San Lorenzo, and Tairona), La Guajira region (Los Flamencos, Riohacha), and Cesar region (Serranía del Perijá, Sabana Rubia, Manaure).

Gory Nejedeka – Muinane People (Amazonas, Colombia)

Conference: Roots and Wings

“Roots”: Represents the identity of our peoples and the legacy of ancestral knowledge. It is the living memory of territorial conservation practices, passed down to us for the care of life, summarized in the sacred word “FIIVO IJ+.” These roots are the foundation that sustains our harmonious relationship with the earth, water, plants, spirits, and all forms of existence.
“Wings”: Birds are linked to our culture, reflected in the names of our clans, our medicine, our own language, and in ceremonies of gratitude for the abundance of the land, where birds teach us to connect with the sacred and the everyday.
With this knowledge, we highlight how birds and the land are not only part of our identity, but are fundamental pillars in the continuity of our culture and ethnic group.

Entrepreneur in territorial governance for Indigenous tourism. Legal representative and traditional authority, Indigenous Tourism Operating Agency "FIIVO IYACHI", Muinane Community (Amazonas).

Gloria Rivera – Indigenous Peoples of Vaupés (Colombia)

Conference: The ancestral knowledge surrounding birds in Vaupés – A view from multiculturalism and knowledge

The significant opportunity offered by the linguistic and cultural diversity of the 27 indigenous communities of Vaupés allows us to value and highlight the entire cultural heritage that these populations recreate about birds through sociocultural significance and oral tradition.

Master's degree in Inclusive and Intercultural Education. Coordinator of the Amazonian Motmot Ethno-Ornithology research group for the SENNOVA program of the Vaupés regional SENA.

Fernando Narvaez – Kamëntsá People (Putumayo, Colombia)

Conference: Birds and culture, an ethno-ornithological perspective

The relationship between the daily and cultural activities of indigenous communities in Putumayo, especially the Kamëntsá community of Sibundoy Putumayo, and birds is presented.
In the worldview of the Kamëntsá people, native to the Sibundoy Valley in Putumayo (Colombia), birds hold a very important place as messengers, spiritual guardians, and symbols of connection between the natural and the sacred. Many birds are considered emissaries of the spirit or the universe. Birds are allies in traditional medicine and symbols of natural balance. Birds, being between the sky, the trees, and the earth, represent that balance between the worlds. They also carry omens and portents.

Biologist, ornithologist, and consultant specialized in intercultural conservation

Victoria Buitrago – Cultura Quimbaya (Quindío, Colombia)

Conference: Songs and plumage: birds in the pre-Hispanic Quimbaya world

Since ancient times, humans have been fascinated by the biological diversity of the fauna and flora found in their territories. In the country, we can observe various representations of birds on archaeological objects, which reflect the variety of species that lived among them and transformed their environment and the way they interacted with it. In the Middle Cauca region,

Anthropologist, Master's candidate in Immovable Cultural Heritage Management. Coordinator, Quimbaya Gold Museum

Mario Guerrero – Kumba-Kimbaya Village (Riosucio, Caldas)

Conference: Guayalak in the Kumba-Kimbaya worldview

The giant hummingbird, also known in the Kumba-Kimbaya tradition as Guayalak, is a deeply spiritual and ancestral symbol, representing a living manifestation of the sacred and natural world. It is a totem that appears at key moments in the community's life, laden with spiritual messages and meanings.

BuremKuricamayo (Alternate Governor), Bearer of the collective memory of the Kumba-Quimbaya people in La Iberia, Riosucio (Caldas)

Chaz Collier – Nación Sayisi Dene (Canadá)

Conferencia: Guardianes del Río Seal, Manitoba, Canadá: Audubon y Alianzas Indígenas por la Conservación de las Aves y sus Hábitats

The Sayisi Dene, an Indigenous people from Canada's subarctic region, have historically lived in the areas surrounding Tadoule Lake in Manitoba. This conference presents an inspiring story from the northern hemisphere: the creation of an Indigenous protected area, led by Indigenous peoples, to conserve the summer habitat of millions of birds.

Land Guardian, Seal River Watershed Alliance

Yurani Guancha – Pueblo Indígena de los Pastos- Resguardo Indígena de Guachucal

Conferencia: Aviturismo en el pueblo indigena de los Pastos Ruta turistica de la perdiz, mujeres indigenas, paramos y aves.

Ley de origen del Pueblo de los Pastos, desde la cosmovisión del Pueblo de los Pastos, la PERDIZ es la nuestro origen y el ordenamiento espiritual del territorio este guiado por los espíritus del territorio, las mujeres indígenas guardan la sabiduría del territorio para cuidar el territorio, cuidar las aves y la Gobernanza del Territorio Indígena desde los saberes ancestrales de las Mujeres Indígenas de los Pastos en el Complejo de Paramos Chiles- Quitasol. El Pueblo de los Pastos cuenta con 25 Resguardos Indígenas siendo el tercer pueblo mas poblado ubicado en el Nudo de los Pastos Sur de Nariño.

Economista, Informadora de Aviturismo.

Andrea Villamizar – Viceministerio de Turismo de Colombia

Conferencia: Colombia, potencia mundial en aviturismo: retos y oportunidades desde la política pública

Colombia es el país con mayor diversidad de aves del mundo y hoy se proyecta como un destino líder para el aviturismo. Desde el Viceministerio de Turismo trabajamos en el fortalecimiento de rutas y productos especializados, la capacitación de comunidades y guías, y la promoción responsable de nuestros territorios para que la observación de aves se convierta en una herramienta de conservación, desarrollo comunitario y construcción de paz. En esta conferencia presentaremos las cifras, oportunidades y retos que enfrenta el país para consolidarse como la capital mundial de la observación de aves, articulando estrategias, sostenibilidad y experiencias transformadoras.

Administradora de Empresas Turísticas y Hoteleras, con especialización en Marketing y Publicidad Digital, profesional de producto turístico de Aviturismo, Astroturismo, Turismo Científico y Turismo Rural del Viceministerio de Turismo.

Conference Agenda

🗓️ Day 1 – Friday, September 12

14:00 – 14:30: Opening, hymns, greetings

14:30 – 15:15: Andrea Villamizar – Viceministerio de Turismo de Colombia – Conferencia: “Colombia, potencia mundial en aviturismo: retos y oportunidades desde la política pública”

15:15 – 16:00: Gloria Rivera Los saberes Ancestrales que rodean a las aves en el Vaupés: “Una mirada desde la multiculturalidad y el conocimiento”- Mitú (Vaupés)

16:00 – 16:15: Coffee break

16:15 – 17:00: José Luis Pushaina – Maleiwa ‘’ Lo existente en el mundo Wayuu – (La Guajira)”

17:00 – 17:45: Fernando Narvaez – Aves y Cultura, una mirada etnoornitologica – Kamëntsa – Sibundoy (Putumayo)

17:45 – 18:15: Forum "Birds as a living memory of the territory"

18:15 – 18:30: Closing

🗓️ Day 2 – Saturday, September 13

14:00 – 14:15: Protocol

14:15 – 15:00: Mario Guerrero Cañas (Memory bearer of the Kumba-Kimbaya people, Riosucio) “Guayalak in the worldview of the Kumba-Kimbaya culture”

15:00 – 15:45: Yurany Guancha – Aviturismo en el pueblo indigena de los Pastos Ruta turistica de la perdiz, mujeres indigenas, paramos y aves (Nariño)

15:45 – 16:00: Coffee break

16:30 – 16:45: Gory Negedeka “The Word That Flies: Teachings of Grandfather Tabaco through Birds” Conversation in the Maloka with – Muinane (Amazonas)

16:45 – 17:30: Marlo Garcia – Pajarear en las ciudades Mayas (Guatemala)

17:00 – 18:00: 16:45 – 17:30: Marlo Garcia – Pajarear en las ciudades Mayas (Guatemala)

18:00 – 18:15: Closing

🗓️ Day 3 – Sunday, September 14

14:00 – 14:15: Protocol

14:15 – 15:45: Salento BirdFair Niños: Martayo trabajo con los niños/lanzamiento Club Condoritos/Niños del Amazonas/Mateo & Guardianes de las aves

15:45 – 16:00: Coffee break

16:00 – 16:45: Victoria Buitrago – Songs and plumage, birds in the pre-Hispanic Quimbaya world

16:45 – 17:30: Sayisi Dene Community (N Manitoba, Canada)

17:30 – 18:00: Lanzamiento SBF 2026/Premiacion concurso de fotografía /Rifas/Cierre

These conferences will take place in the heart of Salento, in a space open to dialogue between cultures, generations, and knowledge. Accompanied by the Condoritos Club—our young Guardians of the Birds—this series seeks to spread awareness, respect, and collective action in favor of life.

Steve Sánchez Lima – Pueblo Inca (Perú)
Conferencia: Las aves y el hombre andino
Desde los Andes, Steve comparte cómo las aves han sido parte fundamental del mundo espiritual y cotidiano de los pueblos quechuas. Son personajes míticos, protectoras del equilibrio natural y guías del alma.
Guía profesional de turismo y gerente de Kuntur Birding.

Marlo García – Quiché Maya People (Guatemala)
Conferencia: Pajarear en las Ciudades Mayas
Una mirada desde la Selva Maya, donde arqueología, cultura y biodiversidad se entrelazan. Las aves aparecen como mensajeras sagradas en el arte, los murales y la espiritualidad Maya, conectando pasado y presente.
Guía especializado en aviturismo y conservacionista con 21 años de experiencia.

Jose Luis Pushaina – Wayuu People (La Guajira, Colombia)
Conferencia: Maleiwa, lo existente en el mundo Wayuu
Las aves son mensajeras entre mundos y guardianas del equilibrio espiritual. Jose Luis nos lleva a través de la sabiduría Wayuu, donde las aves enseñan a observar, respetar y cuidar el entorno.
Director de Guajira Birding y guía líder del norte de Colombia.

Gory Negedeka – Pueblo Muinane (Amazonas, Colombia)
Conferencia: Raíces y Alas
“Raíces” representa el conocimiento ancestral y la medicina indígena. “Alas”, el vuelo sagrado de las aves que conectan cultura, territorio y espiritualidad.
Autoridad tradicional y operador de turismo indígena en Leticia.

Gloria Amparo Rivera Velasco – Pueblo Nasa (Vaupés, Colombia)
Conferencia: Saberes ancestrales que rodean a las aves en el Vaupés
Desde la diversidad lingüística y cultural del Vaupés, Gloria visibiliza el papel de las aves en la tradición oral de 27 pueblos indígenas.
Antropóloga y dinamizadora del semillero de investigación Amazonian Motmot.

Sergio Saldarriaga – Momil Culture (Antioquia)
Conferencia: La cerámica ornitomorfa de la cultura Momil
Homenaje a Ricardo Saldarriaga. Figuras de aves en cerámica que revelan conocimiento profundo de la etología y el simbolismo ancestral de la región Caribe.
Geólogo y divulgador del patrimonio cultural.

Fernando Narváez – Pueblo Kamëntsá (Putumayo, Colombia)
Conferencia: Aves y cultura, una mirada etnoornitológica
En la cosmovisión Kamëntsá, las aves son aliadas espirituales, guardianas del equilibrio natural y mensajeras del universo.
Biólogo y consultor especializado en conservación intercultural.

Victoria Buitrago Salinas – Cultura Quimbaya (Quindío, Colombia)
Conferencia: Cantos y plumajes en el mundo prehispánico Quimbaya
Las aves en los objetos arqueológicos hablan de una conexión antigua entre los pueblos del Cauca Medio y la biodiversidad de su entorno.
Antropóloga y coordinadora del Museo del Oro Quimbaya.

Mario Guerrero Cañas – Pueblo Kumba-Kimbaya (Riosucio, Caldas)
Conferencia: El Guayalak en la cosmovisión Kumba-Kimbaya
El colibrí gigante es símbolo de transformación, memoria y guía espiritual. Mario relata cómo este tótem ancestral conecta la vida comunitaria con el mundo sagrado.
Gobernador suplente de la comunidad Kumba-Kimbaya.

Speaker to be confirmed – Sayisi Dene Nation (Canada)
Conferencia: Una alianza indígena por la conservación
Una historia inspiradora desde el norte del mundo: la creación de un área indígena protegida liderada por pueblos originarios, hogar de millones de aves migratorias.
Representación internacional de conservación colaborativa indígena.

These conferences will take place in the heart of Salento, in a space open to dialogue between cultures, generations, and knowledge. Accompanied by the Condoritos Club—our young Guardians of the Birds—this series seeks to spread awareness, respect, and collective action in favor of life.

Steve Sánchez Lima

Pueblo Inca (Perú)

Guía profesional de turismo y gerente de Kuntur Birding.

Steve Sánchez Lima

Aimi Fuji

Manager

As an valley indeed so no wonder future nature vanity debating all she

Aimi Fuji

Vanesa Lamb

Director

As an valley indeed so no wonder future nature vanity debating all she

Vanesa Lamb
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