International Development Trent University IDST 389: ECUADOR SEMINAR (2010-11) FIELD TRIP TO AMAZONIA Objectives of the fieldrip

p To understand the chakra-system of agroecological production of the Kichwas 2. To participate in a documentation of the chakra system 3. To understand through discussions with the members of different communities the threats they are facing because of oil companies settling in their territories
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Context The different ethnic groups in the Amazonia traditionally lived out of hunting, fishing, recollection of fruits and the itinerant cassava production, all linked to the fragile rainforest ecosystem1 that originally was carefully managed by them. As a product of the evangelization and colonization that took over their lands, their livelihoods culture and knowledge were disrupted to the extent that many groups had to become sedentary. The majority of the territory of the San Pablo parish that we will visit was taken by the Catholic Mision Josefina and some haciendas that converted the rainforest to pastures. In order to stablish themselves legally some Kichwa groups such as the womens association San Jose de Puma Punky had to buy small pieces of land that was accessible to their meager ecomies in their otherwise ancestral territory. Being close to the city of Archidona many native species of the forest have been lost to the trade of lumber. Furthermore, there is an oil concesion in Pitayaku in the territory of San pablo where an oil company has started to work, this directly affects the community of Wayusa Yaku where one of the oil wells is located. There are also three additional oil wells located in privatly owned haciendas that will have an inpact on the local population. The Unin of Kichwas of San Pablo de Ushpayaku (UNKISPU) organizes the families of San Pablo in order to protect the territories that they recovered, reconstruct
Contrary to the Andes where productive soil layers are relatively thick, the soil layer in rainforest ecosystems is thin and superficial. Such layer forms as a result of the decomposition of leaves and the micro-organisms that contribute to this process. Once the forest is cut, the abundant precipitations characteristic of this environment wash away the soil and degrade all resources that depend of this ecosystem most of the times irreplaceably.
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their bio-cultural knowledge and put everything in practice in their own chakras (a kichwa concept of farm). The kichwa chakra system as it is practiced in the present contains many principles for the preservation of the amazonian rainforest without damaging the natural cycles of production. Some of the most important features of this healthy system is that it allows periods of fallow, avoids land tillage and, although it includes the slash of the vegetation left in fallow, it does not include burning. In this context, the project we will visit, supports the reconstruction of ancestral knowledge, proposes to support the documentation of the chakra system by the co-production of this documentation with the local population (one of the main ideas is to integrate the knowledge of the different sites in order to increment the diversity cultivated in each chakra). The project also supports the promotion of traditional handcrafts and the propagation of native trees which are central to Kichwas lifelihood. Finally the project plans to inform the organization about their rights which are usually overlooked by the state and the oil companies that stablish in indigenous territories. Overview of the visit San Pablo is located in the Reserva de Biosfera Sumaco where some families live close to the primary forest considered sacred places for the shamans. Around this area, some families still practice the itinerant chakra production, hunting and fishing. There is a central town where the families live and have access to small fields. San pablo comprises many different communities among which we will visit Santo Domingo and San Jose. On thursday we will have a traditional lunch at the community. After that we will visit the familys chakras in Santo Domingo while documenting their explanations and concerns. We will split into groups of four or five and in each group, students will decide who will be in charge of filming, taking pictures, notes and possibly asking questions. This will only be a first trial of documentation together with local members of the organization. After the visit we will get to the hostal where we will be staying. There we will have a presentation of the project and will be able to ask questions that arouse during the visit to the chakras. On Friday we will visit the familys chakras in San Jose and repeat the same itinerary of documentation in groups as the day before. We will have lunch at the community. After lunch we will have a first wrap up of what we have seen in both communities so far and after that we will participate in a minga. At five we will watch a video about oil companies with members of the community and after that we will have a discussion. That night we plan to have a cultural exchange between the students and the members of the community. We will prepare this with the help of Maria who has experience with this kind of exchages. On Saturday from 9 to 11 am we are invited to participate in a workshop that has been prepared to inform the communities about how the oil companies work with 2

regards to indigenous populations rights. After this, we will left for our final wrap up from 11 am to 12 pm. Students who plan to go back to Quito will get on the bus at around 12 pm and those who stay will go to their different destinations. Detailed schedulle Tuesday October 26
DATE Activity 11:00- Context and history of 12:00 the visit site Details PPT presentation?? Please review the reading for this presentation Coordina tes Cinthya Peaherre ra Maria, Cinthya, Myriam Requirements In focus Give readings on monday Guive schedule Organize groups

12:00 13:00

Review of the schedule and logistic recommendations

Thursday October 28
Hour 5am Activity Students and bus arrive at U. Andina Details Students need to pack breakfast, share coffee with Maria or have a desayuno montuvio with Myriam in a stop organized with that purpose Lunch at the community Each group will document through video and photos Coordinat es Maria Each person will decide how much to expend Cinthya price $3 each lunch Bring at least a camera per each group Give room numbers Requirements

12:00

Arrival at Santo Domingo Community Visit to different farms/FFS in groups of 4 or 5 students?? Bus leaves to hostal Group arrrives to hostal Meeting at the hostal in Tena

2:00

Cinthya

5 PM 6 PM 7:00

Maria

Explanation of project and activities

Cinthya

8:00

Dinner

Hostal

Maria

Friday October 29
Hour 7:30 8:30 9:30 Activity Breakfast Trip to community San Jose Visit to different farms/FFS in groups of 4 or 5 students?? Lunch Each group will document through video and photos At the community Cinthya Bring your cameras 3 dollar per Details At your convenience Coordinat es Requirements

12:30

Cinthya

person 2:00 4:00 5:00 Evaluation of the visits Minga with the community Video presentation crude Discussion Dinner Cultural exchange Students go back to hostal At the community Group of students Students go in groups This video is for the community and the students together Myriam Cinthya Cinthya

6:30 7:00 8:00 9:00

Cinthya Cinthya Maria 3 dollar per person

Saturday October 30th

Hour 9:00 10:00 10:30 12:00 Activity Breakfast Evaluation of the trip Wrap up of the visit Trip back to Quito Details At your convenience General evaluation with Cinthya Evaluation in groups Cinthya & Myriam Group of students Maria Coordinat es

Students who will stay in Tena are invited to participate in a workshop about oil companies for the community on saturday afternoon. In this case students should stay for the whole worshop. Reccomendations

Bring light clothes for rainy, tropical weather Rubber boots are suggested for the walks in the chakras Bring a light jacket for the rain (it usually rains everyday) Bring water Bring some food for the breaks between meals

You will need repelent for avoiding moskito bites and Caladril for lessening the effect of moskito bites. Ideally you should be vaccinated against yelow fever, please consult with a medical doctor about your situation Bring pocket money in order to buy local handcrafts