Page 17 - Caring_for_your_community

Case Study

STRENGTHENING ZENÚ INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES WITH CRAFTS DERIVED FROM THE WILDCANE,
GYNERIUM SAGITTATUM (AUBL.), JARDÍN BOTÁNICO DE MEDELLÍN, COLOMBIA

Description: Begun in 2013, this is a three-phase project Audience research: The success of this project lies in its ability
supporting indigenous Zenú communities to conserve and to learn from the earlier, unsuccessful effort and its willingness
sustainably utilize the previously overexploited wildcane, to gain and use feedback from the local community – to this
Gynerium sagittatum (Aubl.), to make traditional handicrafts, end the garden use project participant’s views in a participatory
including the iconic vueltiao hat, a Colombian national symbol. approach, conducting audience research during meetings with
Phase 1 involved cultivating wildcane, conserving its habitat, community representatives. We currently do not have detailed
establishing seedbanks and producing crafts. To strengthen information of the methodology used.
the knowledge transferred and ensure the conservation
messages are embedded at a young age, Phase 2, currently Funding: The project is state funded through The Department
being developed, involves delivering educational activities to of Agriculture,of Antioquia. Beyond the end of this funding its
schoolchildren. The goal for the third phase is putting the crafts sustainability is ensured by tethering it to the livelihoods of the
on the market, to improve livelihoods. Currently working with community. The project is currently seeking strategic partners
four communities, the project has reached 225 families, around for the commercialization of the products to establish a
1,080 individuals. production/weaving/commercialization cycle which minimizes
the number of intermediaries and results in higher wages.
Focus of the project: Conflicts in the recent past have caused
the Zenú to be forcibly displaced, with the result that the Challenges: Working out how to pay the families has been
community neglected the traditional wildcane in favour of a significant challenge to the project as children have been
more profitable crops and working for mining companies. involved in making the crafts.
This project seeks to remedy the associated environmental,
social and cultural issues and strengthen the community. Zenú Employing traditional
are one of 34 indigenous groups in Colombia that are in danger techniques in the production
of physical and cultural extinction (ABColombia, 2010). This of the vueltiao hat works
project promotes traditional skills and knowledge to contribute
to the continuation of the culture as well as mitigating the ©to conserve Zenuúculture
poverty faced by the Zenú. The garden aims to conserve Simon Trujillo
both the cultural diversity and biodiversity of the local San
Lucas Mountains, a world biodiversity hotspot. Encouraging
sustainable practices on the part of the community ensures
that they respect, conserve and protect the local ecosystem.

Engagement approach: This project builds on a previous
effort which sought to establish community cultivation of
wildcane for use in vueltiao hat production – unfortunately,
the cultivation techniques employed then were inappropriate
and it was unsuccessful. The current project has taken on board
the lesson of previous experience. To respect the internal
governance of the communities, contact was established
through their leaders and meetings with community
representatives were held to ensure that local needs are met.
These meetings continue to be held throughout the project
to sustain engagement and gain feedback. Furthermore,
educational resources for the second phase are developed
by an interdisciplinary team which includes people of Zenú
heritage to ensure they are appropriate and relevant.
The resources include games and other activities designed
so that everyone has fun while learning.

CARING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY | A MANUAL FOR BOTANIC GARDENS 15