The justice system of the indigenous peoples of Colombia. Conceptualization and practical exercises

Abstract

It is the objective of this article to reflect on the meaning and scope of justice from the conceptualization of indigenous peoples, which emanates from within their cosmovision. To accomplish this, it is fundamental to broach the concepts of the Law of Origins, of the Highest Law, and the practical applica-tion of the system of Special Indigenous Justice (SIJ) –the millennial SIJ is formally recognized in the Colombian Constitution and is not just limited to the criminal arena, nor simply to conflicts of jurisdic-tion. Further, it is also essential to understand that justice among the indigenous peoples is conceived holistically, without merely reducing it to how illegal acts are punished in a given indigenous community. The work presented here is an invitation to explore and go in depth into cultural and spiritual dimensions and criteria, elements which, from the life experience of indigenous people, are considered fundamental to an understanding of justice: to its content and application as much for prevention as for community life and the restoration of the human fabric. Finally, the experiences of diverse indigenous peoples in the application of the SIJ are included as illustrative examples.