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Ethnic Information

May 19, 2023

In 2022, engagement with ethnic groups in the areas of influence of Ecopetrol's operations were based on intercultural dialogue and support for regional initiatives, seeking to maintain relationships of trust.

Click here to learn about our Guide for relationships with ethnic communities.

Identification of ethnic group communities in the projects

Prior to the development of any project that implies the possible materialization of new impacts and to ensure the exercise of the right to prior consultation, Ecopetrol requests the certification from the Directorate of the National Authority for Prior Consultation – DANCP that determines if prior consultation is applicable in an area of influence that, for each project, is defined based on the activities to be performed. The information provided to the DANCP includes: (i) description of project activities, (ii) definition of the area of influence or area where the impacts could materialize, iii) analysis of potential impacts and applicable management measures, iv) areas of intervention, v) description of the biotic, abiotic, and socio-cultural and economic environments of the area where the project will be executed, vi) description of ethnic communities present in the project area (when they have been previously identified in the area).

In 2022, 21 requests for the origin of prior consultation were requested for projects under planning. Of these requests, the DANCP has indicated that prior consultation is not applicable in 15 of them, prior consultation with 2 indigenous communities is applicable in 1, and 5 more are still in the process of being reviewed by the agency.

As part of the due diligence in Human Rights, if Ecopetrol identifies ethnic communities that may be directly affected by the activities of a project, the presence of said community in the area is reported to the DANCP, and the due pronouncement of the Authority as to the origin of the prior consultation is requested. In 2022, there was no evidence of the presence of unidentified communities in project areas.

Understanding of context for proper relationship with indigenous and afrocolombian communities

As regards relationship with ethnic groups that live in areas where Ecopetrol operates, the Company takes intercultural dialogue as the principle and process coordinating axis. Hence, in addition to the diagnoses on the territories that can provide relevant information on the characteristics of the ethnic groups, during the prior consultation processes, baselines are built with intercultural and participatory methodologies for gathering data pertaining to the community, which covers social, cultural, environmental, and cartographic aspects that enable knowing the context of the community to then establish measures for managing project impacts.

In 2022, the Camentsá Biya de Orito community delivered its characterization document, which was used as input for finalizing the baseline document for this community. Likewise, with the information collected in the walkthroughs carried out with the Pasto Orito, Siberia, Valle del Guamuez community in 2021, and the characterization document delivered by this community, the preparation of the baseline of this community was completed. Both base lines were essential inputs in the workshop held for identification of impacts and management measures. These characterizations were carried out within the framework of the prior consultation that was conducted in 2022 for the modification of the Environmental Management Plan of the North West production area, located in the municipality of Orito (Putumayo).

In La Guajira, a socioeconomic and cultural diagnosis of communities situated in the area of future interest for offshore exploration and production. This diagnosis helped us to learn about the fishing dynamics of the communities and thus contribute to design a project that allows the coexistence of gas transportation activities with artisanal fishing.

Prevention and management of intercultural conflicts

To prevent intercultural conflicts, the main actions adopted by Ecopetrol are: i) compliance with environmental legal regulations, ii) identification of presence of ethnic groups in the areas to be intervened, and iii) conducting prior consultation processes when required.

Currently, it can be determined that one cause of the conflict with ethnic groups is the lack of clear regulations on the application of the prior consultation process, especially in operational areas that existed before the issuance of Law 21 of 1991, norm that embraces Convention 169 of the International Labor Organization - ILO. This situation has resulted in the establishment of tutelas (action for protection of people's rights) by ethnic groups against Ecopetrol and other government entities, as well as its partners and subsidiaries. With respect to such actions, Ecopetrol has been respectful of the decisions of the judges and has been diligent in their implementation.

Significant conflicts with ethnic communities

CONFLICT START DATE

COMMUNITY

PROJECT

FACTS CLAIMED BY THE COMMUNITY

ECOPETROL'S POSITION

STATUS OF THE CONFLICT 2022

1 April 2022

Puerto Wilches Afrocolombian Corporation - Afrowilches

Integral Investigation Pilot Projects (PPII) in Unconventional Reservoirs (YNC), Kalé Exploration Drilling Area (APE), and Platero Exploration Drilling Area (APE)

They request protection of their fundamental right to prior consultation

The order to conduct the prior consultation with the Afrowilches Corporation does not clearly reflect the criteria and considerations established by the Constitutional Court for the identification of the direct affectation and determination of the origin of the prior consultation with a community, as it is ordered to perform this process with a non-profit entity that claims an unproven direct affectation.

In a second instance ruling, the sentence of April 21, 2022 by the First Administrative Court of Barrancabermeja was revoked and, instead, the request for protection of the right to prior consultation was declared inadmissible.

14 September 2022

Bajo Mirador Yanacona Indigenous Council

Operation of Battery Two of Orito, Well 14, Well 5, Puente Palencia Well, La Sardina Well, Well 36, Pipe Crossings and others in the Orito area.

The community argues that Battery Two of Orito, Well 14, Well 5, Puente Palencia Well, La Sardina Well, Well 36, and the pipe crossing operate in their territory. In this regard, they Government that no prior consultation has been performed.

The rights invoked have not been violated, as the oil activities are not conducted within the territories alleged by the plaintiffs, but in contiguous strips; in the same vein, it is pointed out that these activities have been taking place in the area since long before these communities settled, particularly referring to the 1950s as the beginning of the exploration of hydrocarbon resources in the department of Putumayo.

The Superior Court of the Judicial District of Mocoa by means of a second instance tutela protection action ruling orders the National Directorate of Prior Consultation to conduct the technical verification visit. 

The community has not allowed the verification visit to be performed, arguing that they require the prior completion of various internal meetings     that must be paid to the community.

21 September 2022

Chicalá Pijao Indigenous Council

Operation of Battery Two of Orito, Well 14, Well 5, Puente Palencia Well, La Sardina Well, Well 36, Pipe Crossings and others in the Orito area.

The community argues that Battery Two of Orito, Well 14, Well 5, Puente Palencia Well, La Sardina Well, Well 36, and the pipe crossing operate in their territory. In this regard, they Government that no prior consultation has been performed.

The rights invoked have not been violated, as the oil activities are not conducted within the territories alleged by the plaintiffs, but in contiguous strips; in the same vein, it is pointed out that these activities have been taking place in the area since long before these communities settled, particularly referring to the 1950s as the beginning of the exploration of hydrocarbon resources in the department of Putumayo.

The Superior Court of the Judicial District of Mocoa by means of a second instance tutela protection action ruling orders the National Directorate of Prior Consultation to conduct the technical verification visit. 

The community has not allowed the verification visit to be performed, arguing that they require the prior completion of various internal meetings     that must be paid to the community.

03 November 2022

Pijao Agua Fría Patá Chirico Pina Pata Los Aipes Indigenous Council

Brisas Solar Farm situated within the Huila Norte fields

The community requests, among others, the protection of the right to prior, free, and informed consultation, as they consider that the entire municipality of Aipe is a single territory and, therefore, they are affected by the project.

The construction of the solar farm is part of the ordinary course of Ecopetrol's activities, which is covered by previously issued national administrative acts. Similarly, the area of socioeconomic influence of the project does not include El Pata rural district (where the community is located), that is, in this district no operational activities of the project are or will be conducted; therefore, no impacts will materialize at all. 

The Fourth Court for the Execution of Penalties and Security Measures of Neiva Huila denies the protection of the alleged rights, finding that they have not been violated by the company. Among the arguments used by the court is the fact that there are no sufficient arguments to prove a direct impact on the community.

Identified cases of violation of human rights of indigenous peoples during the report period

In 2022, no violation of the human rights of indigenous peoples was registered, considering that the protection actions that were filed against Ecopetrol for not conducting prior consultation were either ruled in favor of Ecopetrol, or verification of origin thereof was requested by the second instance judge, a situation that to date has not been resolved.

As regards the cases of not conducting the prior consultation and not complying with the obligations derived from the repair consultations performed (Rubiales Polygon case and the APE - Berilo Exploration Drilling Area case), the processes were protocolized, reaching agreements with the communities. In the case of the APE Berilo, since the tutela action was filed prior to the start of the project, it is expected to start in 2023, a situation for which fulfillment of the agreements has not started, which are linked to the start of the operation. In the case of the Rubiales Polygon, the fulfillment of agreements with the communities has begun, and there is positive progress of 96%.

For the accumulated of the Company, there is 99% progress in fulfilling agreements derived from prior consultations.  

Company position relating to hiring members of local ethnias

The hiring of labor among members of Ethnic Groups is based on respect for the right to non-discrimination based on ethnicity in terms of employment, and is regulated by the provisions of the Political Constitution of Colombia, in particular, Convention 169 of the International Labor Organization - ILO, which, in its Article 20, sets forth the following:

“Governments shall adopt, within the framework of their national legislation and in cooperation with the peoples concerned, special measures to guarantee the workers belonging to these people’s effective protection as regards hiring and employment conditions, insofar as they are not effectively protected by the legislation applicable to workers in general.”

Despite the Government being in charge of defining an employment policy for ethnic groups, the Company must avoid any negative discrimination among workers belonging to ethnic groups and guarantee that at least the principle of bilingualism is applied and that the cultural differences of each community, and their representative authorities are considered.

Mechanisms for petitions, grievances, and claims for indigenous communities

For each project, the communication and information channels that the community can use to communicate their petitions, grievances and claims are established and disclosed. These channels may include gathering of verbal claims, telephone calls and written reports. This is equally applicable to ethnic communities; nevertheless, when it is determined that the communities require translation, a native speaker is available to gather such claims.

In 2022, it was not identified that the communities with which prior consultation processes are being carried out required a translator to make use of the participation mechanisms.

Click here to learn about our Procedure for Conduction of Prior Consultations

Click here to learn about our Guidelines for preparation of the participative base line with ethnic groups within the framework of environmental studies with Prior Consultation

Prior consultations underway, monitoring and closing

The prior consultation is performed to comply with legal and environmental regulations, as well as to seek concerted and informed agreements with indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, managing the impact of projects that respect the cultural heritage they represent. In Colombia, the Constitutional Court, through Judgment Su-123 of 2018, has established that prior, free, and informed consent is necessary for the execution of projects that involve any of the situations established by the Constitutional Court in these three exceptional cases: i) transfer or relocation of the indigenous or tribal people from their place of settlement; ii) storage or deposit of hazardous or toxic materials in their territories; or iii) measures that imply a high social, cultural, and environmental impact that puts their subsistence at risk.

From the planning of the operations to be conducted, the possible affectation of ethnic groups in the work areas is verified. In case of verifying before the authority a possible direct affectation to the ethnic groups of the areas, Ecopetrol accompanies and promotes the guarantee of the right to prior consultation. For performance of prior consultations, Ecopetrol has an internal procedure in place, based on current regulations and on the analysis of potential project impacts; such guideline is updated periodically, as new guidelines are issued.

In 2022, Ecopetrol had 9 projects undergoing prior consultation. Of these, 4 projects closed the consultation processes, 1 corresponded to the protocolization of agreements for the modification of the environmental document (Development of the North West Area). The prior consultation for the remaining projects is open: 1 with consultation in progress, and 3 in the agreement monitoring stage.

The communities with which prior consultations are being conducted, are:

Prior consultation processes underway, monitoring, and closure in 2022

Consulted communities / Location

Ecopetrol Project

Progress

Stage reached in 2022

Uitoto de Coropoya Indigenous Reservations, Coreguaje de Jericó, Consaya y La Teófila / Solano (Caquetá) Indigenous Reservations

1. Samichay 2D Seismic.

Consultation protocolized in 2013. The project will not be carried out; therefore, the authority was requested to close the prior consultation.

Closing

Sikuani, Vencedor Pirirí, Guamito Matanegra / Puerto Gaitán Indigenous Reservations (Meta)

2. Mago Norte Exploration Drilling Area

Consultation protocolized in 2013. Consultation closed in 2022.

Closing

Embera Chami de Dachidrua / Puerto Parra (Santander) Indigenous Council

3.  Nafta Exploration Drilling Area

Consultation protocolized in 2014, being monitored.   Executed exploration project. Fulfilled consultation agreements. Waiting for formal closing of the project to conclude the prior consultation.

Follow up

Indigenous Reservations: Cofán Ukumari Kanhke and Santa Rosa; Pasto Rumiyaco; Awá Ishu, and Nasa Uh.   Liberación y Futuro Community Council / Ipiales (Nariño)

4. EMP South Modification - Churuyaco Polygon

7 prior consultation processes underway. Waiting for definition of project continuity.

Execution

Sijuani Alto Unuma Meta Indigenous Reservation / Puerto Gaitán (Meta) 

5. Polygon within the Rubiales Field: Consultation conducted in response to the order of the Council of Government.

Consultation protocolized in 2019, now in monitoring stage.   Consultation agreements underway. Follow up meeting held in 2022.

Follow up

La Palma Black Community and Cocosar / Saravena (Arauca) Black Community

6. Berilo Exploration Drilling Area: Consultation held in response to tutela protection action order.

Prior consultation protocolized in 2019, subject to monitoring.   This project will be operated by Parex; therefore, a meeting on prior consultation assignment was held.

Follow up

Cocosar / Saravena (Arauca) Black Community

7. Llanos 38 Seismic. Banadia 3D phase

Prior consultation protocolized in 2020, subject to monitoring.  exploration project Not started.

Closing

 Camentsá Biya and Cabildo Pasto Orito Siberia (Orito, Putumayo) Indigenous Councils

8. Development of the North West Area

Prior consultation with agreements protocolized in 2022. Environmental authorization is required to start the project.

Protocolization

Altomira Indigenous Reservations and Surantena Indigenous Reservations

9. Chinchiná Pereira Variant

Prior consultation closed in 2022.

Closing

Participatory baseline construction and impact analysis

Should the authority determine the origin of the prior consultation for a project, the corporate procedure is activated and becomes a fundamental part of the process; it implies the direct collection with the consulted ethnic communities of social, environmental, cultural, and cartographic information, and a document named baseline is then consolidated. The participatory construction process of the baseline involves field trips that allow knowing the general characteristics of the communities, identifying places of cultural importance, and technically exposing the operational scope of the project.

This primary source data built jointly with the communities allows for:

  1. Determining and knowing the actual characteristics of each community and, therefore, conducting a particular analysis of potential and impacts and proposing proportional, coherent management measures.
  2. Show the operational scope of the activity in the field. Thus, the communities have technical information on the activities to be conducted, and they can formulate and manage their concerns.

In 2022, progress was made in gathering information with the Camentsá Biya de Orito and Pasto Orito, Siberia, Valle del Guamuez communities for the preparation of the baseline of the North West Development project.

Preparation of Base Line Dialogues with the Governor and community managers for the North West Development project with the Camentsá Biya community (Orito, Putumayo).

 

As a result of the activities with both communities, they officially deliver their characterization documents on the following dates:

  • Camentsá Biya de Orito: By means of a letter dated June 26, 2022, the Camentsá Biyá de Orito community officially delivered the community characterization document.
  • Pasto Orito, Siberia, Valle del Guamuez: The socialization of the information collected in the field trips by the community advisory group, takes place on November 12, 2022 at the town hall, where the community and company (Ecopetrol and ETSA) are presented with the progress of the baseline (sociocultural, environmental component, sacred sites, environmental (abiotic and biotic), and authority and organization.

Protocolized prior consultations

By 2022, Ecopetrol formalized two prior consultation processes for the project Amendment of the Environmental Management Plan of the North West Polygon of the Western Area, with the Pasto Orito, Siberia, Valle del Guamuez indigenous communities (28 August 2022) and Camentsá Biya de Orito indigenous communities (22 October 2022). These meetings had the active participation of the communities and their representative authorities, under the coordination of the Directorate of the National Authority for Prior Consultation – DANCP, The prior consultation processes performed enabled the communities to understand the characteristics of the project, to jointly identify its impacts and management measures, and together with the company generate agreements that were officially protocolized, with the presence of the DANCP,  The prior consultations were conducted within the framework of the principles of good faith, interculturality, information, representativeness, opportunity, transparency, legitimacy, participation, always seeking to respect the ethnic, cultural, and political integrity of ethnic communities.

Protocolization meeting for North West Development project with the Pasto Orito, Siberia, Valle del Guamuez indigenous communities August 28, 2022

Protocolization meeting for the North West Development project with the Camentsá Biya de Orito community, October 22, 2022

Fulfillment of agreements derived from prior consultations.

For projects in which a prior consultation process was conducted during its maturing process, consultation agreements are generated, integrating in the Ministry minutes the consultation protocolization phase. The agreements are binding for Ecopetrol, and their compliance is activated in the operational stage of the project. These agreements correspond to management measures to be applied so that the project can be performed while protecting the integrity of the ethnic community. The Directorate of the National Authority for Prior Consultation – DANCP, periodically verifies compliance with the agreements in the field. Once the agreements have been fully complied with, the authority verifies and issues a consultation closure act. In the event of deciding to abandon the project, the prior consultations are formally closed, a process that is verified by the DANCP.

In view of the foregoing, in 2022 the following prior consultation processes were monitored and closed:

Follow up meetings:

  • Follow-up meeting on the prior consultation process in compliance with tutela (protection of people’s rights action) Ruling No. 50001-23-33-2016-00507-01 of 15 September 2016, issued by the Council of Government for the Rubiales Field.  The follow-up meeting was held on September 8, 2022 with the Sikuani Alto Unuma Indigenous Reservation and the DANCP, In this meeting, the status of compliance with prior consultation commitments was reviewed.

Meeting to monitor compliance with the Rubiales Field tutela protection action ruling.  Sikuani Alto Unuma Indigenous Reservation, 8 September 2022

Closing meetings:

In 2022, two prior consultation processes were closed:

  • On February 23 and 24, 2022, the closing meetings of the prior consultation process were held for the Dosquebradas Variant Project, Chinchiná - Pereira sector, of the Puerto Salgar - Cartago - Yumbo multi-duct transportation system. Closing meetings were held with the communities of the Alto Mira Indigenous Reservation (02/23/2022) and Suratena Indigenous Reservation (02/24/2022).

Closing meeting for the Dosquebradas Variant project, Chinchiná - Pereira sector with the Altomira Indigenous Reservation community 24 February 2022

  • On 7 September 2022, in the Matanegra community of the Vencedor Pirirí Indigenous Reservation, the closing meeting for the Mago Norte Exploratory Drilling Area project was held in Puerto Gaitán (Meta), with the community of the Sikuani, Vencedor Piriri Guamito and Matanegra Indigenous Reservations. In this meeting, compliance of the Company with the agreements was reviewed; the DANCP, and the community verified compliance with all the agreements protocolized, thus officially closing the prior consultation for this project.

Closing meeting for the APE Mago Norte project with Sikuani, Vencedor Pirirí Guamito and Matanegra Indigenous Reservation community on 7 September 2022

 

The following is a map of Ecopetrol's operations, its infrastructure, and exploration blocks, which shows the existence of Indigenous Reservations and lands titled to Community Councils. It is underlined that there is no database that establishes the location of communities that do not have legally constituted land, as the definition of territorial limits must be legalized by the Colombian Government. Therefore, each time an activity is planned for a new area, the respective resolution of prior consultation must be requested from the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry evaluates whether a verification visit to the area is required or it issues the administrative act based on its historical of their databases.

Operations in sites with the presence of ethnic communities or in adjacent areas

Department of La Guajira: the Chuchupa and Ballenas fields, operated by Hocol, a subsidiary of Ecopetrol, are located therein, as well as offshore blocks that are evaluating operational viability.

Department of Bolívar: the Cartagena Refinery and the Néstor Pineda Maritime Terminal are located in the Mamonal Industrial District in Cartagena. Although there are no ethnic groups in the Industrial District, community councils and Zenú Councils have been established in adjacent areas.

Department of Norte de Santander: production fields are operated near the Motilón Barí communities.

Departments of Santander, Boyacá, and Arauca: the U'wa People are located in these departments, close to the operations of the Gibraltar field and its facilities. Several community councils of black communities have been organized in recent years.

In Santander, Embera councils have been organized, which Government that they have had settlements in Puerto Parra, Cimitarra, Puerto Berrio and Puerto Boyacá for over forty years.

Department of Meta: in the municipality of Puerto Gaitán there are 9 indigenous reservations and one partiality. Neighboring the Rubiales and Campo Mago fields, operated by Ecopetrol, there are the Vencedor Pirirí, El Tigre, Alto Unuma, Walliani, Domo Planas and Iwiwi Indigenous Reservations. With the Vencedor Pirirí, Domo Planas, and Iwiwi Indigenous Reservations, prior consultation processes have been conducted for the Mago Norte and CPO-8 Sur exploration projects.

Department of Putumayo: it has received several ethnic groups that have arrived, either through colonization processes, or displaced by situations of violence. In recent years, these communities have requested registration from the Ministry of Interior, which leads to their recognition. Thus, in Putumayo there are councils of the Embera, Nasa, Awá, Pasto, Kichwa, Pijao and Muruy peoples. Community councils have also been formed. The Camentsá and Inga communities originate from the upper Putumayo, and the Siona and Cofán communities from the lower Putumayo.

Department of Nariño: the Sucumbíos Field is located in the municipality of Ipiales, in which there is a presence of the Pasto, Awá, Nasa and Cofán indigenous people, as well as community councils with whom a consultation was initiated. There is also the Trasandino pipeline, on which there are Awá, Pasto communities, and community councils.

 

Ethnic strengthening program: Training in Diversity

Ecopetrol, through a conceptual test, is evaluating a virtual and face-to-face training program called Training in Diversity, which seeks to strengthen dialogue processes with ethnic groups. The program is based on the right to permanent education, that is, a training for life where various actors from the bases of the communities can have access at any moment of their lives to information and training opportunities, in an autonomous, free manner, using social information and communication technologies - ICT (in this case the use of instant messaging -chatbots-) as an innovative tool that facilitates reaching different territories (easily, free of charge, and asynchronously).

This program is structured in 2021 and a proof of concept is developed in 2022, with indigenous communities from the municipalities of Orito, Putumayo (Pasto, Siberia communities) and Manaure, La Guajira (Wayuu communities).

Dialogue with the U'wa People

In 2022, Ecopetrol has assumed the challenge of strengthening trust with the new Asou'wa Board of Directors for the period (2022 - 2025), to pursue the intercultural dialogue and the social investment proposals that have been planned for the benefit of the U'wa People.

U’wa Thought Center.

The U'wa Thought Center is a commitment that, together with Asou'wa and the Government of Boyacá, has been planned seeking to have a space where the community can perform activities to strengthen its own governance and cultural practices.  In 2022, the agreement for its construction was signed, and a protocol act was conducted to place the first stone for the start of the works.

Promotion of health and nutritional security of U'wa indigenous children and youth.

This health project was planned jointly with the authorities of the U'wa people, considering that the specific cultural conditions of the U'wa must be a priority if effective care and a successful project are sought.

Intercultural dialogue with the Unuma Meta Indigenous Reservation

Dialogue and consensus with the Alto Unuma (Meta) Indigenous Reservation of the Sikuani ethnic group, adjacent to the Rubiales field, made it possible to change from being neighbors to being friends based on trust, respect for cultural differences, and indigenous self-government. In 2022, two large meetings were held between Ecopetrol executives and authorities of the Unuma Indigenous Reservation, one of them in their territory, and the other at the Bogotá offices.

From September 29 to October 1, 2022, the Alto Unuma Indigenous Reservation (Meta) invited Ecopetrol, for the first time since the Rubiales field receipt (2016), to an intercultural meeting, as a sign of recognition to the progress in building a relationship of trust. This achievement stems from the process of business ethnic relations started in 2021, which has enabled the transformation of tensions that are typical of the coexistence between indigenous communities and the oil industry, into a long-term commitment to deepen trust, promote a sustainable development and territorial transformation process, based on the sociocultural and environmental potential of the Indigenous Reservation.

In response to the acceptance of the Indigenous Reservation to our Company, Ecopetrol invited its authorities to a new relationship meeting at the offices in Bogotá from November 19 to 21, 2022. In this meeting, the Company's senior management held a dialogue with a view to the future of this process. Furthermore, the women leaders of the Company and the representatives of the Jawuayowa Women's Association, which have been developing gender-focused productive projects within the Indigenous Reservation, held a session in which the role of women in the construction of the life plan and the strengthening of the Sikuani culture were highlighted.

Relationship activities with the ethnic communities of the Putumayo and Nariño departments

Ecopetrol's engagement with the ethnic communities close to the operation is supported through the dialogue that allows to uphold permanent information on the operations. This has also led to consolidating investment projects in territories where the ethnic population coexists with the peasant population.  The following projects are to be highlighted:

Provision of collective equipment for the ethnic and non-ethnic communities of the Jardines de Sucumbíos rural district, municipality of Ipiales, department of Nariño.

The community councils of the black communities Liberación y Futuro and Nuevo Renacer, as well as the Cofán Santa Rosa, Ishu Awá and Ukumari Kakhe Indigenous Reservations and the Inga Nukanchipa Yuyai Cabildo, were provided with items for fieldwork seeking to strengthen their traditional practices. In addition, school kits were delivered, complemented with school supplies to support teachers of grades 0 and 5, who have been trained in their use.

Institutional dialogue with the Local Mayor's Office of Ipiales was conducted with ethnic and non-ethnic communities of the Jardines de Sucumbíos rural district, Nariño.

The ethnic and non-ethnic communities of the Jardines de Sucumbíos township, where Ecopetrol operates, are located almost a day's drive from the municipal seat of Ipiales (Nariño), which makes it necessary to schedule sessions for dialogue with the local mayor and office secretaries, where the community exposes different problems and actions are defined for reaching solutions. Ecopetrol, as actor in the territory, facilitates and participates in these sessions.

Agreement for the sponsorship of artisans from ethnic groups within the framework of Expoartesano and Expoartesanias

Expoartesano
It is an artisan fair that promotes a cultural meeting of all Colombian regions, where the protagonists are the transmitters of their ancestral knowledge, whose trade is the production of Colombian handicrafts. The fair is held every year at the Plaza Mayor Convention and Exhibition Center in Medellín (Antioquia), with the support of government entities, Artesanias de Colombia, and companies. For the 2022 term, it was held between September 9 - 18, and Ecopetrol supported 8 artisans from the Inga and Camentsá of Putumayo ethnic groups to participate in the fair. This support consisted in the design and construction of the stand, and the maintenance and lodging during the Fair in Medellín (Antioquia).

Hence, the artisans achieved significant sales, which allows them to increasingly position their product nationally and internationally, as well as financially support their communities thanks to the sales made during the event.


Expoartesanías.

It is the most popular hand crafts fair in Colombia, in which artisans from all over the country participate. In 2022, Ecopetrol supported the participation of 124 artisans belonging to different communities of ethnic groups from 17 departments of the Colombian territory, with the aim of keeping alive the traditions and ancestral knowledge of our country, in addition to promoting the nation's cultural heritage.

World Forum of Indigenous Businesses

On October 26 to 29, 2022, Ecopetrol supported with logistical resources the World Forum of Indigenous Businesses that was held in Villavicencio (Meta), in which delegations from 23 countries participated. The Sikuani indigenous communities of Puerto Gaitán (Meta) were able to participate in the Forum and to learn from the experience of other ethnic groups' enterprises that, seeking to maintain their traditions, have developed businesses leading to strengthen their own economy.

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