The land spoke in a language older than me, whispering questions I had never fully asked: Who are my ancestors? Who do I honor when I look back?
As a first-generation Nicaraguan-American, the search for my roots has been a complex and often quiet journey. My family does not speak much about our history—an act of protection and preservation of their peace. I have always sought to understand my lineage, but history is not always written down, and roots are not always easy to trace.
In Chile, surrounded by vast landscapes, towering mountains, and endless sky, I felt the presence of something greater—a connection to the unknown, a tether to those who came before me. The land carried an ancient wisdom, one that Indigenous peoples have honored for generations. It was more than history—it was spirit, memory, and guidance. The feeling of searching—the in-between space of knowing and not knowing, of wondering and honoring. If creativity is a path to discovery, then this journey was one of finding, feeling, and listening to what has always been there.
What would it mean to truly know where we come from? What would it feel like to see our ancestors, not in records, but in the land itself?
TEAM CREDITS
Photographer: Ivana Cajina
Cultural Guide: Meybol Garcia
Special Thanks: Trekana Experiences
Ivana Cajina
Photographer
Ivana Cajina is a Queer, first-generation Nicaraguan-American photographer based in Brooklyn, New York.
Her work is rooted in storytelling and human connection, using color as a tool to evoke emotion and memory. With a focus on creating imagery that feels both nostalgic and immersive, Ivana captures moments that exist between reality and feeling—where intimacy and vulnerability are preserved.
Driven by empathy and a deep respect for the people and places she photographs, Ivana’s work is an exploration of identity, belonging, and the beauty found in everyday life.
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