Impact of forced displacement on the quality of life of the Wiwa community in La Guajira

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to analyze the social, cultural, and territorial impacts generated by forced displacement in the Wiwa indigenous community of Limón Carrizal, and to identify community strategies that have favored their cultural survival. The study sought to contribute elements that strengthen resistance practices and processes of social inclusion in intercultural settings. The methodology was developed with a mixed approach, combining ethnographic techniques and quantitative tools. Likert-scale surveys were administered to a sample of 62 people, complemented by in-depth interviews, participatory workshops, and direct observation. The research was conducted between September 2024 and April 2025 in settlements in La Guajira, ensuring validity through triangulation of sources and feedback of findings to the community. The results show that forced displacement led to fragmentation of the social fabric, loss of ancestral lands, and weakening of traditional practices. Disintegration of the social structure (24%) and changes in power dynamics (28%) were also identified. Likewise, a reduction in access to fundamental rights was evident: health limitations, educational difficulties, and precarious housing. However, resilience mechanisms emerged, such as the revitalization of the Damana language, the strengthening of youth leadership, and the recreation of ritual spaces, which contribute to social cohesion. It is concluded that, despite the adverse impacts, the Wiwa community maintains a remarkable capacity for cultural resilience, which constitutes a basis for designing inclusive, differential, and sustainable public policies aimed at guaranteeing their rights and improving their quality of life.