Colombia builds village for northwestern indigenous group

Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos approved the construction of a new village for the indigenous Embera Katio tribe beginning Thursday.

The newly granted township in Colombia’s northwestern department of Antioquia will host a community of about 450 people in 84 huts.

A statement from the Department for Social Prosperity (DPS), which coordinated the construction of the settlement, said it would have running water, a sewage system, health center and electricity.

The village has been named “Jaikerazabi,” which means “place where life grows with the perfume of the flowers.”

Approximately $2.5 million was invested to erect the town, raised through a collective effort from dozens of indigenous entities, government officials, several corporate foundations and the United Nations.

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