21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Antonia carrying yucca over her head

Amidst the Amazon rainforest in Vaupés, Colombia, traditional indigenous communities of Wanano and Cubeo ethnic groups uphold age-old practices centered around the yucca brava tuber. This tuber, which was an original and natural cyanide content that must be extracted, serves as a cornerstone in their diet, giving rise to staples like fariña, casabe, chivé, and chicha. The responsibility of cultivating and processing yucca falls to the women in these communities. They oversee its cultivation, transportation to the community, and the crucial process of venom (cyanide) extraction. In this photograph, we glimpse into the daily life of Antonia as she traverses the "chagra" (the cultivated area) making her way from the yucca fields back to the community. This image encapsulates the symbiotic relationship between the indigenous people, the Amazon rainforest, and the essential role played by yucca in their sustenance and cultural heritage.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 12.2020
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Mitú, Colombia
Camera: X100F
Copyright: © María Andrea Parra Velez