Kneading the Flavors of Our Identity / Amasando Sabores de Identidad: Inventario de PCI de Fortalecillas (Neiva, Huila, Colombia)
The event “Amasando Sabores de Identidad: Inventario de Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial de Fortalecillas (Neiva, Huila, Colombia)”is constitutes the final stage of a process of participatory identification, documentation, and social appropriation of the culinary heritage of Fortalecillas, a territory whose food practices have been deeply shaped by its geographical and ecological relationship with the rivers Magdalena and Fortalecillas. The project sought to recognize, value, and safeguard the traditional culinary knowledge, techniques, and practices transmitted through generations—those that not only sustain local diets but also build cultural identity, social cohesion, and collective memory.
During the socialization event, the team will present the results of the inventory, including the identified manifestations, their associated knowledge and meanings, and a set of recommendations for safeguarding* The activity will also serve as a space for dialogue and reflection, where community members—particularly women cooks, elders, youth, and local producers—can validate, expand, and prioritize the findings. The event will integrate storytelling, live demonstrations, and culinary tastings as forms of cultural exchange and intergenerational transmission.
By documenting and disseminating the culinary traditions of Fortalecillas, we contribute to recognize traditional cuisines as essential components of the nation’s intangible cultural heritage, intimately linked to biodiversity, local economies, and community wellbeing. Ultimately, this event reaffirms the role of traditional cooking as a living expression of identity and sustainability, strengthening local capacities for heritage management and ensuring that the voices of the community—those who keep the knowledge of the territory alive—remain at the center of cultural policy and safeguarding actions.
To resume, this is a participatory encounter aimed at sharing with the community the results of the research and documentation carried out within the project “Amasando Sabores de Identidad: Caso del Corregimiento de Fortalecillas en Neiva (Huila)” conducted by the Research Group “Macizo Colombiano: Cultura y Patrimonio” of the Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas y Culturales de la Corporación Huiltur.. This initiative is developing under the Beca para la Salvaguardia del Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial 2025, within the framework of the Programa Nacional de Estímulos del Ministerio de las Culturas, las Artes y los Saberes, and with the support of the Corporación Huiltur (NGO-90576 accredited by UNESCO ICH Convention), and the volunteer group Vigías del Patrimonio Cultural Huiltur.
Programme
- 7:00 AM – Welcome and presentation of research results on cultural heritage in Fortalecillas.
- 8:00 AM – Gastronomic exhibition and knowledge-sharing dialogue with traditional bearers.
- 9:00 AM – Closing conversation and community reflections.
