The provisions regarding native peoples in the 1991 Colombian constitution codify native identities that until now, were more fluid and locally‐based. This essay reflects upon what ethnic difference means to the various indigenous participants in the Colombian constitutional dialogue, through the interpretation of educational materials developed by major indigenous organizations to inform and promote discussion at the grassroots. In particular, we are concerned with native contributions to the creation of Indigenous Territorial Entities and the extent to which essentialized definitions of ethnicity are successful in promoting an indigenous identity on the national level. The relative success of two national‐level indigenous organizations is assessed and compared.