Los Wayúu (La Guajira)

The people of Guajira , both in Colombia and Venezuela, are the Wayuu, one of the few ethnic groups that were never conquered or dominated. Owners of a desert land that is desolate and poor, the Wayuu have been forgotten and out of the modern world for centuries, hence they retain their ancestral customs and language that is now taught in regional schools. The Wayuu family clans are matriarchal. The women wear 'blankets', or long loose tunics, that cover the entire body. They are skilled weavers and take care of the home, while the men fish or herd animals.