Help Us Protect the Kamëntsá Language: A Living Treasure of the Colombian Amazon
- Oioc El Origen Shanayoy
- Nov 20
- 3 min read
There are moments in history when an ancient voice calls out to us — softly, urgently — asking to be protected.Today, that voice comes from the heart of the Colombian Amazon, from a people who have carried memory, ceremony, and ecological wisdom for thousands of years.
It is the voice of the Kamëntsá language, spoken in the Upper Putumayo, one of the oldest continuously inhabited regions of the Amazon.
And today… it is in danger.
Only a small percentage of Kamëntsá people can still speak their ancestral tongue. Every word forgotten is a story lost. Every silence is an elder’s teaching fading. Every day that passes without action brings this sacred language closer to disappearing forever.
This is more than language loss.
It is cultural loss.
Ecological loss.
Spiritual loss.
Human loss.
The Birth of Mosh Kamëntsá: A Pathway Back to the Origin
In 2024, the Kamëntsá community, guided by OIOC and Circle of Sacred Nature, launched Mosh Kamëntsá, a community-led language revitalization program designed to restore fluency, identity, and pride.
Today, more than 111 students — children, youth, parents, and elders — participate in a living classroom where:
ancestral words return to daily life
medicinal plant names are remembered
traditional stories find new breath
intergenerational bonds are strengthened
territory and identity reconnect
This is not simply a school.
It is a cultural revival.
A healing movement.
A return to origin.
Why Saving the Kamëntsá Language Matters for the World
Languages like Kamëntsá hold entire ecosystems of knowledge.
When a Kamëntsá elder names a plant, they are sharing:
medicinal properties
ecological relationships
ceremonial uses
stories of creation
teachings about balance
This is knowledge that Western science is only beginning to understand.This is wisdom that the Amazon still depends on.This is memory that humanity cannot afford to lose.
Saving the Kamëntsá language is an act of cultural justice, ecological protection, and spiritual reciprocity.
The Learning Bonus: A Bridge of Dignity
One of the most innovative aspects of the program is the Learning Bonus, a small financial support offered to students at key learning milestones.
This bonus has transformed participation.
It allows:
single mothers to attend classes
youth to stay committed
families with economic challenges to participate
elders to feel honored
students to complete the full curriculum
The Learning Bonus is the heart of the program, but also its greatest expense.
What You Protect When You Support This Program
By donating, you help safeguard:
Kamëntsá identity
medicinal plant knowledge
ceremonial memory
intergenerational unity
the Amazon’s ecological wisdom
a millennia-old lineage still resisting erasure
You become part of a global circle holding this ancient voice with care, love, and responsibility.
Our Prayer of Gratitude
On behalf of OIOC, Circle of Sacred Nature, Taita Juan, the teachers, elders, students, and the entire Kamëntsá community:
Thank you for helping us keep this voice alive.
May your generosity ripple across generations, and may the language of this ancient people continue to shine in the heart of the Amazon.
With love, reciprocity, and deep gratitude,
Taita Juan, Erika Salazar & Celina De Leon
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