𝐁𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚 🇨🇴
On August 11th, we continued our mission to advance Bitcoin education worldwide. This time, in collaboration with Paystand, We had the opportunity to work with the Arhuaco community in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.
☀ Who are the Arhuacos?
The Arhuacos are an Indigenous people who view their territory as the “Heart of the World.” Their culture emphasizes harmony with nature, guided by their spiritual leaders, the Mamos. They speak Iku, dress in traditional white clothing with symbolic conical hats, and are known for crafting mochilas, handwoven bags with deep spiritual meaning. They are deeply connected to the land and actively defend it against threats like mining, armed conflict, and environmental harm. As “Elder Brothers,” they see themselves as guardians of Earth’s balance.
How Bitcoin Entered Their Lives The Arhuacos were introduced to Bitcoin at the Bitcoin Conference in Medellín, where Spanish-speaking members were invited by paystand.org to explore how Bitcoin could serve their community. There, they also met MotivPeru, whose work with the Quechua people sparked interest in visiting Peru to see Bitcoin in action.
🌱 A Connection with the Quechuas
In Peru, the Arhuacos saw how Quechua communities use Bitcoin for savings, commerce, and tourism. Their shared values helped form an instant connection: Nature-based spirituality Spiritual leadership Sustainable agriculture Communal living and reciprocity Preservation of language and identity Defense of territory and culture.
📕Three Days of Learning
Building on this experience, Paystand and My First Bitcoin organized a three-day educational program in the Arhuaco territory.
🎯 Goals
The goals of the training include roughly four long term goals. Firstly, to introduce Bitcoin as a tool to complement traditional bartering. Secondly, to promote financial autonomy through respectful, locally relevant education. Furthermore, we aimed to train community leaders to guide conversations around value, money, and freedom. Finally, the program included philosophical dialogue, hands-on activities, and value-driven lessons. At the end, each participant received a certificate of participation, symbolizing not just completion but a meaningful step toward financial empowerment.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to bring free and open source Bitcoin Education to all corners of the earth, especially to communities like the Arhuacos in Colombia.
Find all the translations here 👇
