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Juancho Torres

Photojournalism | English/Spanish Photodesk| Journalism | Documentary projects | Multimedia

The Struggle of the Embera People for Dignity and Survival

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Clients: Anadolu Agency

A group of Embera women at the ...lking back to their home lands.

1 of 17 © 2025 Juancho Torres

A group of Embera women at the Embera reservation Gitó Dokabú gather on December 15, 2018 in Santa Cecilia, Risaralda, Colombia. The Embera had to abandon their territories of origin to escape Colombia's nearly five-decade civil war since most of the confrontation took place in rural areas. As more than 3,000 indigenous Embera were displaced and many suffered casualties for the last two decades due to the armed conflict, the communities are at risk of disappearing. However, after the peace accords signed by Colombia's government and the rebels, the Embera have slowly started walking back to their home lands.

The Embera had to abandon their...lking back to their home lands.

2 of 17 © 2025 Juancho Torres

The Embera had to abandon their territories of origin to escape Colombia's nearly five-decade civil war since most of the confrontation took place in rural areas. As more than 3,000 indigenous Embera were displaced and many suffered casualties for the last two decades due to the armed conflict, the communities are at risk of disappearing. However, after the peace accords signed by Colombia's government and the rebels, the Embera have slowly started walking back to their home lands.

An Embera family walk to the Ke...lking back to their home lands.

3 of 17 © 2025 Juancho Torres

An Embera family walk to the Kemberdé reservation through the jungle on December 15, 2018 in Santa Cecilia, Risaralda, Colombia. The Embera had to abandon their territories of origin to escape Colombia's nearly five-decade civil war since most of the confrontation took place in rural areas. As more than 3,000 indigenous Embera were displaced and many suffered casualties for the last two decades due to the armed conflict, the communities are at risk of disappearing. However, after the peace accords signed by Colombia's government and the rebels, the Embera have slowly started walking back to their home lands.

More than 1000 Embera indigenou...trict and national authorities.

4 of 17 © 2025 Juancho Torres

More than 1000 Embera indigenous struggle for life at the Colombian Capital, after becoming homeless without government aid in Bogota, Colombia on October 01, 2021. Indigenous Embera families spend the night in tents and huts in Bogota's National Park, they were evicted from the place where they lived at the Ciudad Bolivar peripheries. In the middle of heavy rain, these citizens took the place waiting to be heard by the district and national authorities.

Colombian Indigenous Woman is s... in their living circumstances.

5 of 17 © 2025 Juancho Torres

Colombian Indigenous Woman is seen in a temporary shelter provided by the mayor's office of Bogota, Colombia on October 20, 2022. They protest the living conditions they are subjected to, including lack of water, food spoilage, and an uncertain future without the possibility of returning to their ancestral lands. A demonstration by a number of indigenous groups in the heart of Bogota, culminated on Wednesday with violent clashes with the police and a total of 24 injuries, 11 of which are serious. The protesters called for attention and a change in their living circumstances.

An Embera woman carries her &am...lking back to their home lands.

6 of 17 © 2025 Juancho Torres

An Embera woman carries her 'canasto' prepares to to cross the San Juan river on December 15, 2018 in Santa Cecilia, Risaralda, Colombia. The Embera had to abandon their territories of origin to escape Colombia's nearly five-decade civil war since most of the confrontation took place in rural areas. As more than 3,000 indigenous Embera were displaced and many suffered casualties for the last two decades due to the armed conflict, the communities are at risk of disappearing. However, after the peace accords signed by Colombia's government and the rebels, the Embera have slowly started walking back to their home lands.

A family portrait hangs inside ...s of displacement and struggle.

7 of 17 © 2025 Juancho Torres

A family portrait hangs inside a home in Pueblo Rico, Risaralda, a silent reminder of the Embera people's resilience amidst years of displacement and struggle.

An Indigenous Woman is seen in ... in their living circumstances.

8 of 17 © 2025 Juancho Torres

An Indigenous Woman is seen in a temporary shelter provided by the mayor's office of Bogota, Colombia on October 20, 2022. They protest the living conditions they are subjected to, including lack of water, food spoilage, and an uncertain future without the possibility of returning to their ancestral lands. A demonstration by a number of indigenous groups in the heart of Bogota, culminated on Wednesday with violent clashes with the police and a total of 24 injuries, 11 of which are serious. The protesters called for attention and a change in their living circumstances.

Embera community Women are seen...co, Colombia on December, 2018.

9 of 17 © 2025 Juancho Torres

Embera community Women are seen as they returned to their ancestral territory an reunited with relatives after staying for about two years in Bogota due to forced displacement while fighting against the inclement cold, hunger and socio-economic difficulties, in Pueblo Rico, Colombia on December, 2018.

Embera community Women are seen...co, Colombia on December, 2018.

10 of 17 © 2025 Juancho Torres

Embera community Women are seen as they returned to their ancestral territory an reunited with relatives after staying for about two years in Bogota due to forced displacement while fighting against the inclement cold, hunger and socio-economic difficulties, in Pueblo Rico, Colombia on December, 2018.

Colombian Indigenous kids as th... in their living circumstances.

11 of 17 © 2025 Juancho Torres

Colombian Indigenous kids as they take a nap next to her Mother in a temporary shelter provided by the mayor's office of Bogota, Colombia on October 20, 2022. They protest the living conditions they are subjected to, including lack of water, food spoilage, and an uncertain future without the possibility of returning to their ancestral lands. A demonstration by a number of indigenous groups in the heart of Bogota, culminated on Wednesday with violent clashes with the police and a total of 24 injuries, 11 of which are serious. The protesters called for attention and a change in their living circumstances.

Colombian Indigenous people, ma... in their living circumstances.

12 of 17 © 2025 Juancho Torres

Colombian Indigenous people, mainly from the Embera ethnic group, are seen in a temporary shelter provided by the mayor's office of Bogota, Colombia on October 20, 2022. They protest the living conditions they are subjected to, including lack of water, food spoilage, and an uncertain future without the possibility of returning to their ancestral lands. A demonstration by a number of indigenous groups in the heart of Bogota, culminated on Wednesday with violent clashes with the police and a total of 24 injuries, 11 of which are serious. The protesters called for attention and a change in their living circumstances.

Colombian Indigenous people, ma... in their living circumstances.

13 of 17 © 2025 Juancho Torres

Colombian Indigenous people, mainly from the Embera ethnic group, are seen in a temporary shelter provided by the mayor's office of Bogota, Colombia on October 20, 2022. They protest the living conditions they are subjected to, including lack of water, food spoilage, and an uncertain future without the possibility of returning to their ancestral lands. A demonstration by a number of indigenous groups in the heart of Bogota, culminated on Wednesday with violent clashes with the police and a total of 24 injuries, 11 of which are serious. The protesters called for attention and a change in their living circumstances.

Colombian Indigenous Kid as He ... in their living circumstances.

14 of 17 © 2025 Juancho Torres

Colombian Indigenous Kid as He walks throw the temporary shelter provided by the mayor's office of Bogota, Colombia on October 20, 2022. They protest the living conditions they are subjected to, including lack of water, food spoilage, and an uncertain future without the possibility of returning to their ancestral lands. A demonstration by a number of indigenous groups in the heart of Bogota, culminated on Wednesday with violent clashes with the police and a total of 24 injuries, 11 of which are serious. The protesters called for attention and a change in their living circumstances.

An Indigenous kid is seen as he... in their living circumstances.

15 of 17 © 2025 Juancho Torres

An Indigenous kid is seen as he plays at la Rioja, a temporary shelter provided by the mayor's office of Bogota, Colombia on October 20, 2022. They protest the living conditions they are subjected to, including lack of water, food spoilage, and an uncertain future without the possibility of returning to their ancestral lands. A demonstration by a number of indigenous groups in the heart of Bogota, culminated on Wednesday with violent clashes with the police and a total of 24 injuries, 11 of which are serious. The protesters called for attention and a change in their living circumstances.

An Indigenous kid is seen &... in their living circumstances.

16 of 17 © 2025 Juancho Torres

An Indigenous kid is seen at la Rioja, a temporary shelter provided by the mayor's office of Bogota, Colombia on October 20, 2022. They protest the living conditions they are subjected to, including lack of water, food spoilage, and an uncertain future without the possibility of returning to their ancestral lands. A demonstration by a number of indigenous groups in the heart of Bogota, culminated on Wednesday with violent clashes with the police and a total of 24 injuries, 11 of which are serious. The protesters called for attention and a change in their living circumstances.

An Indigenous kid is seen as he... in their living circumstances.

17 of 17 © 2025 Juancho Torres

An Indigenous kid is seen as he plays at la Rioja, a temporary shelter provided by the mayor's office of Bogota, Colombia on October 20, 2022. They protest the living conditions they are subjected to, including lack of water, food spoilage, and an uncertain future without the possibility of returning to their ancestral lands. A demonstration by a number of indigenous groups in the heart of Bogota, culminated on Wednesday with violent clashes with the police and a total of 24 injuries, 11 of which are serious. The protesters called for attention and a change in their living circumstances.

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Thumbnail of A group of Embera women at the E_alking back to their home lands.

Thumbnail of The Embera had to abandon their _alking back to their home lands.

Thumbnail of An Embera family walk to the Kem_alking back to their home lands.

Thumbnail of More than 1000 Embera indigenous_strict and national authorities.

Thumbnail of Colombian Indigenous Woman is se_e in their living circumstances.

Thumbnail of An Embera woman carries her &_alking back to their home lands.

Thumbnail of A family portrait hangs inside a_rs of displacement and struggle.

Thumbnail of An Indigenous Woman is seen in a_e in their living circumstances.

Thumbnail of Embera community Women are seen _ico, Colombia on December, 2018.

Thumbnail of Embera community Women are seen _ico, Colombia on December, 2018.

Thumbnail of Colombian Indigenous kids as the_e in their living circumstances.

Thumbnail of Colombian Indigenous people, mai_e in their living circumstances.

Thumbnail of Colombian Indigenous people, mai_e in their living circumstances.

Thumbnail of Colombian Indigenous Kid as He w_e in their living circumstances.

Thumbnail of An Indigenous kid is seen as he _e in their living circumstances.

Thumbnail of An Indigenous kid is seen &n_e in their living circumstances.

Thumbnail of An Indigenous kid is seen as he _e in their living circumstances.

Public Project

The Struggle of the Embera People for Dignity and Survival

Copyright Juancho Torres 2025

Updated Oct 2024

¨The Struggle of the Embera People for Dignity and Survival" is a visual storytelling Long term-project focused on documenting the return of the Embera Community to their ancestral lands after years of displacement due to Colombia's armed conflict. The project seeks to humanize their journey while highlighting the broader issues of displacement, environmental degradation, and cultural survival. The Embera people have endured decades of violence, illegal mining, and forced recruitment by armed groups. In Bogotá, thousands of displaced Embera families have faced discrimination and poverty while living in makeshift camps. This project will visually narrate their return home, shedding light on the challenges they face, from lack of infrastructure to the preservation of their cultural identity.

2023 Early Childhood Reporting Fellowship: Latin America
Dartcenter.org

1,141

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