Abya Yala is a term adopted by organizations and institutions of indigenous peoples to refer to the American continent.
The name was given by the Kuna people (Guna or Cuna), originating from Panama and Colombia, before the arrival of Christopher Columbus and the Europeans in the 15th century.
In the Kuna language, Abya Yala means "mature land," "living land," or "land in bloom," being synonymous with America.
History of the Kuna People
The Kuna people originated from the Sierra Nevada, in the north of Colombia.
They inhabited the region of the Gulf of Urabá and the mountains of Darién.
They currently reside on the Caribbean coast of Panama, in the Comarca of Guna Yala (San Blas).
Meaning and Use
Each native people of the continent has attributed different names to the regions they occupied (Tawantinsuyu, Anahuac, Pindorama).
Abya Yala seeks to build a sense of unity and belonging among the indigenous peoples.
It is a symbol of identity and respect for the inhabited land.
Political Use
The first time Abya Yala was used with a political sense was at the II Continental Summit of Indigenous Peoples and Nationalities of Abya Yala in Quito, 2004.
In 2007, at the III Continental Summit in Iximché, Guatemala, a Continental Coordination of the Nationalities and Indigenous Peoples of Abya Yala was created as a permanent space for connection and exchange.