Very interesting read! I think this is my favourite thing you said: “I can’t say with certainty it was all 100% ethical. All I know is that it was 100% human.” 👌
Wow, what an interesting experience. I understand how you felt and am curious about how I would behave in such a situation. A couple of years ago I visited the Smoky Mountains national park in the US, and they had a section where you could interact with Native American craftsmen and buy some of their work. I don't remember any complicated feelings about that brief experience, only the fact that they seemed very friendly and relaxed. But I was also very young then and didn't have my current worldview. So much of our perception is shaped by age and experience, it's crazy
Ive never been to anything like that in the US so I don’t really know much about this particular experience but on the surface level, I don’t see anything wrong with native Americans showcasing their culture and selling their products somewhere tbh :) what I always feel a bit weird about is visiting tribes/villages as a tourist.
I’ve been to a similar place in the US and came to a similar conclusion. The people seemed happy to educate visitors on the culture and pleased to be able to sell their work. Then again, who knows how happy they were behind the scenes.
Great article! When I was researching Colombia, for a travel to come, I stumbled over the possibility to visit the Wayuu. I was not sure, what to expect. Now I know. Thanks for taking us along, it was really interesting.
This was a great read. I completely get the ‘tension’ you feel around participating in these kinds of experiences. It’s a tightrope and I agree that it’s mainly about how we approach it. When I was younger I went on a number of tours that in retrospect were morally questionable. Now I’m more aware and approach these things with caution. There have also been occasions when the behaviour of some of the other tourists on the trip made me completely want to dissociate, and yet at the same time I was also questioning whether I was really that different from them at all.
Thanks! I was really lucky to be with a nice respectful easy going small group on this trip, it made things way easier. But can imagine it going many different directions with the wrong people 🙈 the question whether I am any different is also something I ask myself sometimes 🥲
"For the Wayuu—and many indigenous people worldwide—“performing” culture for tourists serves more than just one purpose. Yes, it’s a source of income. But it’s also a plea for visibility and recognition in a country that still tends to look down on them. It’s asserting their importance in a society that loves to show off the Wayuu bags while overlooking the people who weave them."
This really stood out to me because it seems true in almost every place we visit. There are so many marginalized communities that people/countries/culture are willing to make money off of. I usually try to buy artisan goods like this for myself or gifts for others because I know what an impact it makes on the people who crafted them. Good for you for bringing this beautiful group to light in such an engaging way.
Very interesting read! I think this is my favourite thing you said: “I can’t say with certainty it was all 100% ethical. All I know is that it was 100% human.” 👌
Thank you so much 💚 it was very human indeed
Wow, what an interesting experience. I understand how you felt and am curious about how I would behave in such a situation. A couple of years ago I visited the Smoky Mountains national park in the US, and they had a section where you could interact with Native American craftsmen and buy some of their work. I don't remember any complicated feelings about that brief experience, only the fact that they seemed very friendly and relaxed. But I was also very young then and didn't have my current worldview. So much of our perception is shaped by age and experience, it's crazy
Ive never been to anything like that in the US so I don’t really know much about this particular experience but on the surface level, I don’t see anything wrong with native Americans showcasing their culture and selling their products somewhere tbh :) what I always feel a bit weird about is visiting tribes/villages as a tourist.
I’ve been to a similar place in the US and came to a similar conclusion. The people seemed happy to educate visitors on the culture and pleased to be able to sell their work. Then again, who knows how happy they were behind the scenes.
Yes, exactly, you never know. I'm always cheerful or at least neutral at work, I don't let my problems be reflected on the surface.
Appreciate the way you interrogate easy assumptions whilst also leaving room for different opinions. I learned a lot reading and it got me thinking.
Also I agree that something about taking pictures of kids, even if the parents say it's okay, always feels off!
Thank you so much! Glad it’s serving its intended purpose then :)
Great article! When I was researching Colombia, for a travel to come, I stumbled over the possibility to visit the Wayuu. I was not sure, what to expect. Now I know. Thanks for taking us along, it was really interesting.
Thank you! Hope you have a great time in Colombia! Just out of curiosity, after reading this, would you go visit the Wayuu?
Yes! Sounds like an interesting experience.
I would! Sounds like an interesting experience to learn about the people who live there.
This was a great read. I completely get the ‘tension’ you feel around participating in these kinds of experiences. It’s a tightrope and I agree that it’s mainly about how we approach it. When I was younger I went on a number of tours that in retrospect were morally questionable. Now I’m more aware and approach these things with caution. There have also been occasions when the behaviour of some of the other tourists on the trip made me completely want to dissociate, and yet at the same time I was also questioning whether I was really that different from them at all.
Thanks! I was really lucky to be with a nice respectful easy going small group on this trip, it made things way easier. But can imagine it going many different directions with the wrong people 🙈 the question whether I am any different is also something I ask myself sometimes 🥲
Wow! That's crazy
This is really good travel writing. Thank you for sharing.
"For the Wayuu—and many indigenous people worldwide—“performing” culture for tourists serves more than just one purpose. Yes, it’s a source of income. But it’s also a plea for visibility and recognition in a country that still tends to look down on them. It’s asserting their importance in a society that loves to show off the Wayuu bags while overlooking the people who weave them."
This really stood out to me because it seems true in almost every place we visit. There are so many marginalized communities that people/countries/culture are willing to make money off of. I usually try to buy artisan goods like this for myself or gifts for others because I know what an impact it makes on the people who crafted them. Good for you for bringing this beautiful group to light in such an engaging way.