Ecuador, the living forest by Catalina Martin-Chico

The indigenous Kichwa people of Sarayaku are located in the Amazon region of Ecuador, on the Bobonaza River. It is made up of seven community centers covering an area of 135,000 hectares. 95% of Sarayaku's territory is primary forest, with a wide diversity of flora and fauna.
According to Sarayaku's vision, the ecosystem is made up of three essential ecological units: Sacha (forest), Yaku (river) and Allpa (land). Sarayaku's vision and mission is "to preserve and sustainably use the natural resources of its territory, to strengthen Sumak Kawsay (living in harmony) and to ensure the continuity of Kawsak Sacha (the living forest).
In 1996, the Ecuadorian state granted 200,000 hectares to the Argentine oil company CGC for oil exploration and exploitation, including the entire Sarayaku territory. After lodging numerous complaints with the national authorities, the Sarayaku community (1,200 members) eventually delayed extraction activities. However, in 2002-2003, members of the oil company forced their way into Sarayaku territory, opening roads, introducing explosives and clearing land sacred to the community. As a result, 1,400 kilos of explosives still lie beneath Sarayaku territory, putting the lives of the Sarayaku people at great risk.

Walkanga comes to bath her litt...harmonie). »

Walkanga comes to bath her little brother. The native peoples of the Amazon have a holistic vision of the Pachamama: "It is not simply a landscape or aesthetic relationship, but the incarnation in our bodies, hearts and thoughts of the vital acts of each of the living beings around us. We base ourselves on the existence of the Sacha runakuna or inhabitants of the forest, visible and invisible, organize our reciprocal relationships, define and put into practice Sumak Kawsay (life in harmony). » Les peuples originaires d'Amazonie, ont une vision holistique de la Pachamama : « Il ne s'agit pas d'une relation simplement paysagère ou esthétique, mais de l'incarnation dans nos corps, nos coeurs et nos pensées, des actes vitaux de chacun des êtres vivants qui nous entourent. Nous nous fondons sur l'existence des Sacha runakuna ou habitants de la forêt, visibles et invisibles, organisons nos relations réciproques, définissons et mettons en pratique le Sumak Kawsay (la vie en harmonie). »

On the day of the collective wo...atique depuis le plus jeune age

On the day of the collective works, on Saturdays, everyone cooks and eats together. This saturday, the work focused on cleaning the school from the rampant vegetation. The main tool of Sarayaku's kichwas is the machete. It is used for clearing brush, cleaning, cutting wood, but it can also be a weapon. The handling of the machete is practiced since the youngest age. Le principal outil des kichwas de Sarayaku est la machette. Elle sert à débroussailler, nettoyer , couper du bois, mais cela peut être aussi une arme. Le maniement de la machette se pratique depuis le plus jeune age

The palm tree is useful all the...miers lisans, wayura et ukscha.

The palm tree is useful all the way. There are many kinds of palm trees. We pick the fruits of the morete, chili, chambira, chiwa, chonta palms. We eat the heart of the chonta, chili, taraputu, ramos, chiwa. The leaves of the lily, wayura and ukscha palm trees are used for the roofing of the houses. Le palmier est utile jusqu’au bout. Il y a beaucoup de sortes de palmiers. On cueille les fruits des palmiers morete, chili, chambira, chiwa, chonta. On mange le cœur de la chonta, le chili, le taraputu, le ramos, le chiwa. On utilise pour la toiture des habitations les feuilles des palmiers lisans, wayura et ukscha.

Walkanga is playing with the mo...entiel dans la forêt.

Walkanga is playing with the mobile, as all the children in the world. The houses are often raised from the ground, with the lower part serving as kitchen and living room. The habitat is made with wood from the forest. Protection from mosquitoes and other insects is essential in the forest. Les constructions sont souvent surelevées du sol, la partie basse servant de cuisine et de pièce a vivre. L’habitat est réalisé avec le bois issu de la forêt. Se protéger des moustiques et autres insectes est essentiel dans la forêt.

Jade Gualinga is having a snack...wsak Sacha (the living forest).

Jade Gualinga is having a snack while the parents pick up the yucca. Sarayaku has the vision and mission to "preserve and use in a sustainable way the natural resources of its territory, to strengthen the Sumak Kawsay (live in harmony) and to assure the continuity of the Kawsak Sacha (the living forest).

The Rio Bobonaza is the link be...s grande communauté.

The Rio Bobonaza is the link between the people of Sararyaku and the "civilization". It takes 4 hours by motor canoe to reach the heart of the Sarayaku territory where the largest community lives. Le Rio Bobonaza est le lien entre le peuple de Sararyaku et la "civilisation". Il faut 4 heures en canoë à moteur pour atteindre le cœur du territoire de Sarayaku où vit la plus grande communauté.

Today the entire Amazonian fore...le de sa résistance.

Today the entire Amazonian forest is under threat and with it all the world's tropical forests and the people who live in them. The Kichwa people of Sarayaku are resisting and the flowers are the symbol of their resistance. Aujourd’hui l’ensemble de la forêt amazonienne est menacé et avec elle l’ensemble de toutes les forêts tropicales du monde et les peuples qui les habitent. Le peuple Kichwa de Sarayaku résiste et les fleurs sont le symbole de sa résistance.

On the day of the collective wo...egio de las plantas selvaticas.

On the day of the collective works, on Saturdays, everyone cooks and eats together. This saturday, the work focused on cleaning the school from the rampant vegetation. El dia de los trabajos colectivos, los sabados, todos cocinan y comen juntos. Aquí en una sala del colegio ya que los trabajos se localizaban en limpiar el colegio de las plantas selvaticas.

The Rio Bobonaza is the heart o...g, cleaning, and playground too

The Rio Bobonaza is the heart of the community. Transportation, fishing, cleaning, and playground too

Sarayaku is governed by the tra...la force du peuple de Sarayaku.

Sarayaku is governed by the traditional Kichwa authorities (Kurakas system). The assemblies are the heart of Sarayaku's community life. All decisions are taken after consultation with the inhabitants who participate in these meetings with assuidance. This direct democracy is the strength of the people of Sarayaku. Sarrayaku est gouverné par les autorités traditionnelles Kichwa (système des Kurakas). Les assemblées sont le cœur de la vie de la vie communautaire de Sarayaku. Toutes les décisions sont prises après consultation de habitants qui participent avec assuiduité a ces réunions. Cette démocratie directe est la force du peuple de Sarayaku.

Jade is carrying the fishing of...iliar with hunting and fishing.

Jade is carrying the fishing of the day. Children participate in all community activities with their parents and from an early age become familiar with hunting and fishing.

Among the Sarayaku, head lice i...illes se battent pour le faire.

Among the Sarayaku, head lice is an exciting game, and the girls quarrel to do it. Chez les Sarayaku, se chercher les poux est un jeu passionnant, et les filles se battent pour le faire.

For 90%, it is a subsistence ec...iers, les bois de construction.

For 90%, it is a subsistence economy depending mainly on agriculture and forest resources such as hunting, fishing, fruit picking, honey, palm trees and timber. Pour 90%, c’est une économie de subsistance dépendant majoritairement de l’agriculture et des ressources de la forêt telle que la chasse, la pêche, la cueillette de fruits, le miel, les palmiers, les bois de construction.

Walkanga and jade are playing b...rsquo;utilisation des pirogues.

Walkanga and jade are playing by the water. Children should become familiar with water and the use of dugout canoes at a very early age. Les enfants très tôt doivent se familiariser avec l’eau et l’utilisation des pirogues.

What a better bathroom. There&a...es bains écologiques

What a better bathroom. There's no drinking water, no sewage, no sanitation. There are only ecological baths and Maya is having fun before hand-washing the clothes Quelle meilleure salle de bain. Il n’y a pas d’eau potable, pas de réseau d’égouts, ni de sanitaire. Il n’y a que des bains écologiques

Setting up a camp can take up t...;arrivée de la nuit.

Setting up a camp can take up to an hour, often ending with the arrival of nightfall. L’établissement d’un campement peut prendre une heure, il se termine souvent avec l’arrivée de la nuit.

Like everywhere else in the wor...fascinent aussi le plus jeunes.

Like everywhere else in the world, smartphones are never far away and also fascinate the youngest. Les smartphones comme partout dans le monde ne sont jamais loin et fascinent aussi le plus jeunes.

Catalina Martin-Chico

Also by Catalina Martin-Chico —

PORTFOLIO

Yemen 2007-2017