Aging in Indigenous Communities: Perspective from Two Ancestral Communities in the Colombian Andean-Amazon Region

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Anthropology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Global aging is a growing phenomenon, yet research on aging within indigenous communities remains limited.
• Understanding the unique experiences of aging in indigenous populations is crucial for effective policy development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To interpret the meaning of old age in two indigenous communities (Inga and Kamëntsa) in the Colombian Andean-Amazon region.
• To highlight the importance of local sociocultural context and regional characteristics in understanding aging.
• To inform policies and interventions for recognizing and integrating indigenous populations.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing an interactionism-symbolism approach.
• In-depth interviews with six indigenous individuals aged over 60 from two ancestral communities.
• Data analysis involved discovery, coding, and relativization of information.

Main Results:

• Old age is equated with wisdom, reinforced by cosmology and life experiences.
• Elderly individuals maintain identity, autonomy, and agency within their communities as knowledge keepers.
• Loss of ancestral knowledge poses a risk to individual and collective identity and survival.

Conclusions:

• The meaning of old age in these communities is defined by wisdom and the role of safeguarding ancestral knowledge, not chronological age.
• Wisdom is intrinsically linked to cosmology and community, with oral tradition serving as a key tool.
• Understanding indigenous perspectives on aging is essential for developing culturally sensitive and effective programs and policies.