The following post is a guest blog written by Justino Piaguaje, President of the Siekoya Nationality of Ecuador-Nasepai. Justino is from the Sucumbios Province along the Aguarico River which is inhabited by two communities made up of about 700 Siekopai indigenous peoples. They are considered to be an ethnic and millennial minority in this part of the Amazon. We invited Justino Piaguaje to share some reflections about his community and how they are confronting the current pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only tested humanity’s ability to defend itself from this invisible enemy, but it has also been a test of solidarity among the Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon. In the face of adversity, the bonds of unity and solidarity of our peoples are strong and unbreakable.
Without a doubt, we are living through one of the most arduous moments in human history. Our leaders and community members have been going through anguish, pain and powerlessness. We are seeing our people and our fellow community members collapse, bedridden at home, fighting for their lives.
As part of the Siekopai nation and on their behalf, we have ventured into the depths of the jungle to collect the natural medicine that our grandparents taught us about. The spirits of the jungle have always nurtured these medicinal plants and have shared these medicinal plants with our communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon and with humanity.
For this reason, based on the positive results that we have achieved by using this medicine, our wise grandparents and the people of the Siekopai nationality of the province of Sucumbíos-Ecuador have decided to deliver and share this traditional medicine with all our communities. We wish to help in the prevention and improvement of the deteriorated health of Indigenous Peoples.
Written and pictures by Justino Piaguaje
President of the Siekoya Nationality of Ecuador-Nasepai