The following post is a guest blog written by Lic. Albeiro Amable Mendua Chapal, Executive Director for the Kuan-kuan Foundation and a member of the A’i, A’indekhû indigenous people, who live in the Kofán Dureno Community in the Province of Sucumbios in Lago Agrio region of the Ecuadorian Amazon. There are currently over 190 families who live in this region that is settled near an oil field. We invited Lic. Albeiro Amable Mendua Chapal to share some reflections about his community and how they are confronting the current pandemic.
We are the A’i, A’indekhû «people, human beings.” We have organized our lives and our culture, from our thinking and interaction with the jungle. “Tsampi”, where the spirits of Mother Nature guide us to live in harmony with all the beings that exist within the forest. The A’i people have a significant link to each of the elements of nature. The entity that governs the earth is “Kuankuan”, identified with the substance, “anjampa”, which nourishes animal, plant and human life. “Anjampa” is the blood of “Kuankuan”, symbolized by the oil that flows within the earth. These natural resources possess spiritual wisdom and are considered to be sacred.
Approximately 20 years ago, there was an oil spill in the Aguarico River where fish and other animals died. We lost our families to unknown diseases, and no one was held accountable for what had happened. The past returns to us again in the banks of the Coca River where our brothers from the “Kichwa” communities are settled.
“Solidarity must prevail in our communities”
It is essential to take care of life and care for the integrity of the indigenous communities of the Amazon basin. It is important to create opportunities for timely participation with political, economic, socio-environmental and cultural decision-making to protect the rights of the people to a healthy life.
As Indigenous Peoples, we are not only exposed to the spread of the coronairus within our territories. At the same time, we continue to face other ongoing issues such as the shortage of food and medicine, the lack of information in our languages, and the lack of government support to address this crisis. This concerns us because the challenge we face against COVID-19, is fighting it in our own ways, seeking alternative solutions with the support of partner organizations. Governments must develop better public policies worldwide and create a binding agenda informed by Indigenous Peoples. The government must respect and protect the wisdom and knowledge acquired by elders. Our elders are an encyclopedia of life, for life.
The A’i is an ancient nationality of Indigenous Peoples. We have history that is being forgotten, and a past that must be respected. We have provided land, food, tools and labor for the development of the country. In this process, we have been impoverished, threatened with the possibility of the extinction of our people. There have to be incentives, and economic support must be created for the development of our own farming, health, education and appropriate technologies for our day-to-day lives. We must focus on providing an alternative for sustainable development.
Chiga tsû afepuenjan – Thank you
Written by: Lic. Albeiro Amable Mendua Chapal:
Executive Director fot rhe Kuan-kuan Foundation
Contact:albeirokuankuan@yahoo.es