In response to the systematic erasure of Indigenous Peoples facilitated by artificial intelligence, Osvaldo Calle, a member of the lacommunis Association, proposed “Syntopia”: a state of equilibrium in which technology enhances human purposes rather than replacing them. This perspective was presented during the launch of his book “The Sacred Fire and Artificial Intelligence” on the first day of the IV International Forum on Legal Pluralism, Indigenous Law, and Anti-Racism, held at the University of Magdalena (Santa Marta, Colombia) from May 19 to 21, 2026.
Calle’s vision is articulated through the notion of the “Digital Huipil,” a metaphor that urges us to “weave” our own reality using artificial intelligence as a strong thread, yet guided by ancestral values and wisdom. Through this approach, communities not only safeguard their cultural heritage but also exercise sovereignty over their own technological transition.
The valuable contribution of this work to the defense of community rights and identity was highlighted, from an interdisciplinary perspective, by the book’s commentators: Juan Carlos Vargas Ruiz, anthropologist; Ana Delia Fernández Siijono, social communicator; and Cristian Rodríguez Martínez, attorney.
For his part, Ricardo Changala, president of the lacommunis Association, denounced the existence of undemocratic legal pluralism and called for debunking technological myths such as the supposed infallibility and intangibility of AI. He argued that these systems make mistakes and “hallucinate” in their responses, and that their nature is purely material—not virtual—due to their consumption of water, energy, and land; resources that come primarily from Indigenous lands. The expert shared this analysis during the forum’s first panel, titled “Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Artificial Intelligence.”
The forum concludes on May 21 with the Intercultural Dialogue—Roundtable Discussion “Ethical Guidelines for the Intercultural Governance of Artificial Intelligence Based on the Rights of Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and Tribal Peoples,” the commemoration of National Afro-Colombian Day, and the reading of the event’s conclusions.
