- Corporal Pushaina, with her example and vocation, seeks to encourage more women of her ethnic group to join the Military Forces.
- Pushaina is the first wayuu woman in the Army, however, there are already 200 women from her community in the National Police and Civil Defense.
Julieth Paola Pushaina Epiayú, a professional nursing assistant, at the age of 26 became the first woman of the Wayúu indigenous community to be part of the National Army.
“I am in the National Army and I feel very proud. I wear my uniform with pride, in the same way I am wearing my shawl that is part of me, that identifies me with who I am, which is a wayuu woman,” says Corporal Pushaina.
She is the number 11 of 12 brothers, born in Barranca and belonging to the Zhaíno indigenous community of the Alta Guajira, has been in charge of social work in her community since the time she is part of the institution.
“At this moment I am in a Battalion of Comprehensive Action, helping my community and all my Guajira,” says the corporal with pride, while recognizing that to become part of the Army has not been easy, because there are several sacrifices he has had to make. “To study at [the military] school and pay for my trips I had to make backpacks, chinchorros (hammocks), and so I could collect the money I needed for my exams to enter.”
Pushaina came to the National Army motivated to progress, because according to her, wearing the uniform of the Military Forces was her dream since childhood to see her brother, a Soldier. Sadly, he died in the middle of an ambush 14 years ago.
“Army and life have taught me to be strong, I have passed through very difficult tests, but here I am standing and I will continue like this because this is what life is about, about fighting,” says Corporal Pushaina.
For her, it was difficult to leave her indigenous reservation and get used to new customs, because according to the corporal, she had to learn a lot from her companions “it was hard because I was the only wayuu woman and while adapting to the language of my companions, they corrected me, it made me laugh, but little by little I adapted.”
Currently, the corporal serves in the municipality of Uribia, in the same way known as the indigenous capital city of Colombi’, where 95% of its people are indigenous wayuu, being 15% urban and 85% rural.
Source: Defence Sector Communications Office - Ministry of National Defence
