CIET supports the recovery and promotion of traditional indigenous knowledge in Colombia, and its articulation with western medicine, as a sound strategy for improving health outcomes among indigenous populations without further destroying their culture and environment.

 

In this context, CIET has collaborated with the Centro de Estudios Médicos Interculturales (CEMI), a non-governmental organization of Colombian medical practitioners advocating for intercultural health policies and practices. CEMI, in turn, is associated with the Study Group on Traditional Health Systems (GESTS) from the University of Rosario in Bogotá. In 2003, a representative of these entities participated actively in the Ottawa Colloquium on Ethics in Aboriginal Health Research.  CIET has provided support for a capacity-building project of this group called Gestores Comunitarios de Salud (community health agents).

 

CIET has also partnered with CEMI and the indigenous health organization Dusakawi EPSI to strengthen the role of traditional Arhuaco healers (Mamos) in northern Colombia, support their dialogue with western science, and train Arhuaco community health agents (Click here for more details on this intercultural project).