Translated from Spanish by Andrea Echeverría

My original name is Tiko’u (Little Burning Firewood) and I am a descendant of the Epinayuu e’irukuu (clan). I am a poet and writer from Manaure (La Guajira, Colombia). In the animal world, I am the grandson of the deer and the carnivorous wasp. In the Wayuu world, my elders are Ka’iwalaachi (Sun of the golden doll), Kuluweera (Our lizard penis), Aisa’i (Cassava legs), Kachinta (Kaasha–drum–player), Iyeeka (The raw one), Kalampuuna (Calambuco), Mocho’i (One-eyed person), Perasa’i (Piece of a leg), and Kookolonshi (He who snores a lot when sleeping). Finally, I have a more recent name, Rafael Segundo Mercado Epieyu.

My territory of origin is on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. My elders are fishermen and they engage in conversation before going fishing with the female spirits of the sea called puloui. Juya´, our grandfather winter, taught us about seeds and sowing, and Mma´, Earth, sustains us with her fertile womb. Water is essential for us, our bodies were woven within the water of our mothers’ wombs, we prepare our food with water, we look for fish in water, and water is our blood.