“Decolonizing Borders in Abya Yala”

The paper "Decolonizing Borders in Abya Yala" delves into imposed borders' historical and theological underpinnings during the colonization. Through comprehensive analysis, the study identifies three types of borders resulting from colonization and their far-reaching implications in Abya Yala. The first border explores the physical barriers that divided the motherland, profoundly impacting native communities, broken families, slavery, and land expropriation. The second border investigates the imposition of Spanish, Portuguese, and English as "civilized" languages, which overshadowed native languages, leading to forced assimilation and erasure of native languages. The third border pertains to the control of knowledge and spiritual practices, wherein native spiritualities and wisdom were marginalized, being viewed as pagan compared to a dominant form of Christianity presented as the only acceptable belief system. A decolonial approach challenges existing border paradigms and aims to empower native descendants to reclaim their heritage, knowledge, identity, and spiritual practices in Abya Yala.