Cristo Perez offers insights on indigenous spirituality and the harm of landmines in Colombia
Cristo Perez wishes he had listened to the bird. If he had heeded its warning, he might not have stepped on a land mine that day three years ago.
Birdsong is an omen to Perez, a 32-year-old father of eight and member of the U’wa people, whose ancestral territory is in northeastern Colombia.
After decades of civil war, Colombia has the second highest number of land mine incidents worldwide. Arauca, the area where Perez lives, is located on a guerrilla supply route and is littered with antipersonnel mines and unexploded devices. Though a peace agreement was signed in November, the deadly land mines remain.
