BACKGROUND:
Chagas disease (CD) is highly endemic in Colombia's Sierra Nevada, significantly affecting the Wiwa Indigenous population, whose historical relationship with health interventions has been marked by institutional fragility and mistrust. In this context, the CUIDA Chagas project developed a community communication strategy aimed at decolonizing knowledge, grounded in respect for cultural diversity and construction of an intercultural perspective on the health–disease process related to CD.

METHODS:
The strategy was operationalized through a Community Communication Workshop conducted by the project team, with the active involvement of key Wiwa Indigenous health leaders as mediators. The workshop included trust-building activities, visual presentation of the biomedical understanding of Chagas disease, sharing of Indigenous perspectives on health and illness, and participatory construction of an intercultural narrative. Participants also identified priority communication materials and defined subsequent actions and responsibilities.

RESULTS:
Fourteen members of the Wiwa Gotzezhi community and four project staff participated, with Damana as the primary language and interpretation provided by community mediators. The main outcome was the collective development of an intercultural perspective of CD, integrating traditional knowledge and biomedical concepts. Five priority communication products were identified: an informational poster, an illustrated playful activity, a documentary reflecting the Wiwa perspective on the disease, an informational booklet, and a life history narrative linked to participation in the project. A dissemination strategy was developed to distribute these materials in key community spaces, including schools, the Indigenous health unit, and other communal areas.

CONCLUSIONS:
The Community Communication Workshop proved effective in fostering intercultural dialogue, strongly representing the indigenous voice, strengthening community engagement, and supporting health education processes aimed at addressing CD. The role of local mediators and translators was essential for effective communication. This methodology should be replicated and evaluated in other indigenous contexts to ensure appropriate adaptation to diverse territorial and ethnic settings.