Argentine writer Héctor Tizón, described the feeling of being in the Andean Altiplano rather effectively: “Here the earth is hard and sterile; the sky is blue and empty, and it’s closer than anywhere else. In this land, where it is hard to breathe, people depend on many gods”.

Primarily, Andean communities rely on women. They venerate Pachamama, the supreme goddess and universal Earth Mother. As a female deity, Pachamama embodies the fundamental values that define the essence of the Andean worldview, known as Cosmovision — a convergence of religious and ancestral beliefs, serving as the philosophical foundation for the Rights of Nature.

By promoting the sacred connection between humans and the cosmos, the Andean worldview inherently advocates for gender equality and incorporates a robust set of woman-centered values that exalt femininity in everyday life. Notably, the society of the Altiplano has been regulated by an evolving matriarchal system since the pre-Columbian era, anticipating the current surge of feminist values reshaping societies worldwide.

Vernaschi’ series AHICITO NOMAS delves into the symbolism within Cosmovision and recounts the inspiring stories of matriarchs, indigenous leaders, educators, LGBT activists, mothers, and survivors of violence. In different ways, these self-empowered women illuminate a resilient society where ancestral and contemporary feminism converge to make a difference.

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