By: Mariano Ushigua. Education Director of the GOVERNMENT COUNCIL OF THE SAPARA NATION OF ECUADOR. NASE.
The Sapara Nation and cultural manifestations of Ecuador are recognized as ORAL AND INTANGIBLE HERITAGE OF HUMANITY. The Sapara Nation is located in the east of the Province of Pastaza, and is made up of 23 communities situated next to 2 rivers. Next to the Conambo River there are the communities of: Llanchama Cocha, Ripano, Jandiayacu, Masaramo, Tistsano, Nima Muricha, Conambo, Torimbo, Imatiña, Suraka, Shiona, Santa Rosa, Amazonas, Espejo and Alto Corrientes. In the Pindoyacu river there are the communities of: Atatakuinjia, Cuya Cocha, Chuya Yacu, Pindoyacu, Lupuna, Balsaura and Wiririma.
The Sapara Nationality comprises 38,140 hectares and has a total population of 700 inhabitants, including boys, girls, young people and the elderly. Currently, we have three native speakers who preserve the Atupama Sapara (Sapara language).
The Sapara are defenders of the naku (known as Pacha Mama or Mother Earth). Currently, the naku faces serious problems regarding the conservation of the lands and culture due to extractive projects being carried out by the government.
In recent years concessions have been granted to oil blocks 79 and 83 in the territory, without the consent of the Sapara Nation of Ecuador. This represents a serious threat to the integrity of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, which endangers the Sapara science and ancestral wisdom that we have from nature. If non-renewable resources such as oil are exploited in our territory, the Sapara culture will disappear!
Due to these events, the leaders of Sapara have denounced this violation of their rights, for which they have been victims of constant threats of imprisonment.
Another current threat is that the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Ecuador is violating human rights, the Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador and the 21 collective rights. Without prior consultations awarded, the ancestral territory Sapara was authorized as part of the Association Ancestral Sapara de Pastaza – Ecuador “NARUKA”, that does not represent the Sapara nationality. This decision favored the entry and interest of the Government to carry out oil activities. Therefore, in the face of all these external and internal threats, the 23 Sapara communities find themselves in a position of struggle and resistance.
That is why, on August 31, 2021, a protection action has been filed requesting the protection of collective rights to the territory, to cultural integrity and prior, free and informed consultation, and the application of self-determination rights. These rights have been recognized by the Constitution of Ecuador and ILO Convention 169.
TOGETHER AND UNITED WE WILL WIN. WE WILL NOT ALLOW THE DISMANTLING OF OUR LEGITIMATE RIGHTS IN OUR TERRITORY