PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOJOURNALISM VIDEO by PAUL SMITH

INDIGENOUS RIGHTS: The Awá - Caught in the crossfire

In Colombia, according to a recent UNHCR report 34 indigenous groups are in danger of “extinction” due to the country’s armed conflict and forced displacement. Among the threatened groups are the Awá, who inhabit the mountains and humid forests on the western side of the Andes and the Pacific Coast of Colombia and northern Ecuador.

Once upon a time, solitude and obscurity was the good fortune of the indigenous Awá. Their marginal territories not being a target for national development, outsider's economic projects nor it seemed were they of any significant importance. But then, around the year 2002 coca-leaf and cocaine production arrived and the war came with it.

Caught between the two sides the Awá have suffered many deaths and disappearances at the hands of the armed groups. Also, the laying of landmines by the guerrillas to protect their camps have confined the indigenous communities and caused many deaths and injuries.

Faced by an ever more complicted situation, and accused by the armed groups of collaborating with their enemy, thousands of Awá have been displaced to the nearby towns of the mestizos (non-indigenous). There, far from the land which is central to their cultural identity and integral to their sustenance, they must work as waged labourers to pay for food and rents.

A short video piece using interviews with displaced persons from the indigenous Awa tribe in Nariño, Colombia, who are caught in the middle of a in the conflict between the Colombian military and left-wing guerrillas of the FARC.

Whilst not originally intended as a video, this piece was put together using images taken on a four day photo and reporting assignment where the interviews were recorded on HD video to give the client the option of making a multi-media piece.

The commission was for the Secretariado Nacional de Pastoral Social (SNPS - Colombia) and various CARITAS and CAFOD based in Europe.

The Footage and stills were taken on a Canon 5D MkII using a 50mm f1.8. Audio was recorded into camera using Sennheiser MKE 400 and Sennheiser lavalier EW 100 G3. In Spanish with English subtitles.

(Click on arrowhead for sideshow).