Weaving Paths to Eliminate Racism: Indigenous Peoples and Higher Education in Colombia

Abstract

Weaving Paths to Eliminate Racism: Indigenous Peoples and Higher Education in Colombia was a virtual initiative developed by the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia - ONIC in conjunction with the University of Rosario, supported by the UNESCO Chair, which aimed to generate dialogues, debates, and proposals to eliminate racism in higher education in Colombia. This article is a weaving of the experience that took place in the second semester of 2020 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and collects the voices of students -both indigenous and non-indigenous- who participated in the process on how they have faced racism in higher education in Colombia. This article is made up of an introduction and 4 parts that collect the different topics addressed in the initiative: I- Conceptual Matters: Thinking Racism in Higher Education in Colombia, II- Challenges to Eliminate Racism in Higher Education in Colombia: Indigenous Students and Indigenous Teachers, III- Good Practices to Eliminate Racism: Indigenous Women in Higher Education, and IV- Conclusion and Recommendations: The Low Standards of Universities for the Recognition of Diversity.