Research Team
Andrea Sánchez-Castañeda, PhD.
Cultural anthropologist working in the fields of critical indigenous studies and urban environmental studies, particularly in Latin America. Her research focuses on the ontological dimensions of indigeneity, territory, nature, and the sacred of the Muysca of Suba, an urban indigenous community located in Bogotá, Colombia, with whom she has collaborated throughout her master’s and doctoral research. Andrea earned her PhD in Global and Sociocultural Studies, with an Anthropology track, and her MA in Religious Studies from Florida International University. She has also been a member of the Global Indigenous Forum (GIF) at the same institution.
During her postdoctoral fellowship at CSWR, Andrea has worked collaboratively with the Muysca community to document the use of sacred plant medicines and their vital role in the process of Indigenous revitalization and territorial defense in the city of Bogota. Andrea was responsible for the project website, encompassing its design, content, and overall presentation.
Nicolle Torres-Sierra, MA.
Indigenous Muysca linguist, poet, and cultural educator with over eight years of experience in community-led language revitalization, participatory documentation, and creative pedagogy. Nicolle integrates oral traditions, poetry, music, and ritual into curricula and training programs that strengthen intergenerational transmission and cultural resilience. She has led pedagogical and editorial projects with Colombian institutions focused on Indigenous linguistic rights, decolonial education, and intercultural dialogue, producing teaching resources, pedagogical booklets, and a collaborative digital platform, Suba Cubun (subacubun.com). Her approach centers on ethical co-creation, measurable outcomes (including train-the-trainer models, community archives, open educational resources), and sustainability through local capacity building.