Achuar: A Global View from The Dream Leaders of The Amazon- Group 5: Achuar defend territory from oil pollution

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Achuar defend territory from oil pollution

In an article from globalvoicesonline.org it explains how there is an eternal struggle of the Amazonian communities to defend their ancestral lands against oil pollution. The government does not help the achuar, or any of the Amazonian people with their fight. So they have taken it into their own hands. One protest took place in the Tigre River. The communities blocked the river. The Amazonian people are demanding that the oil companies pay environmental compensation for the use of land and water in their communities. They are having a hard time getting the oil companies to meet these demands. It is important to note that the Amazonian people are not totally against oil exploitation but they are against how it is going on now. There are changes to be made. They still have a long fight to go in order to protect their communities.

Reference:

Peru's Achuar and Kichwa Indigenous Communities Defend Their Territory From Oil Pollution, globalvoicesonline.org
March 23rd, 2015

2 comments:

UnknownMarch 24, 2015 at 7:57 PM
I feel for the Achuar and other Amazonian people. These big oil companies are coming in and they have little to no concern for the people who live there and whom this effect. As a white female from the United States, I often don't think about issues like this. However, reading about it I see how unfair it is. The oil companies are intruding on their land and causing environmental problems. I think the Amazonian people are being very fair in their demands and I believe the government should be helping them instead of turning an eye pretty much. There's not much I can do to help their cause. But I will be checking up on the status of their fight. I am on the Amazonian people's side.
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UnknownMarch 28, 2015 at 4:26 PM
Awesome! Thanks for the very reflexive comment Cheyenne!!! You might need to revise your references. I am not sure if it's a web site or an article, but the idea is to make all the references from all the group members here consistent. So please you guys gotta work on that before the final presentation. Thanks for the very responsible work this semester Cheyenne
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Mission: The iCross-Cultural Citizen Project is a cultural anthropology course-basedproject meant to raise critical consciousness about the rich cultural diversity in ourindigenous world. Being totally aware of the limitations of being outsiders, we are agroup of multidisciplinary undergraduate students who believe in cross-culturalsensitivity and participatory agency aimed at disseminating information aboutindigenous realities as accurately as possible.

Vision: The iCross-Cultural Citizen Project’s vision is to create an online cross-culturalspace for students, professionals, and youth to learn and exchange cross-culturallysensitive information about contemporary indigenous experiences. From that outsiderstudent’s perspective, we will try to theoretically explore possible collaborative solutionsto problems that affect the indigenous populations of our planet. Finally, we hope for thefuture creation of a space where indigenous youth can share their experiences and theirrealities with us for real mutual collaboration to take place.

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We value the equal treatment of people, and we are against the exploitation of vulnerable groups around the world.
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Geography of the Achuar

The Achuar are an indigenous population from the Amazon Basin. They have a total population of about 6,000 and live along the Pastaza and Morona River Basin by the borders of Ecuador and Peru. They have nearly 2 million acres of land in a remote area. The remoteness of the region has helped them to preserve and maintain their ancient cultures and rituals. They have had little outside influence or colonization, unlike many other indigenous groups. The Achuar live here specifically because they have a special connection to with the rainforest and have a profound respect for the spirits of the forest and its animals.

Reference:

Achuar Jivaro in Ecuador: legacy: Joshua-Project

February 15th 2015

The Achuar Backgroun Information

Achuar were first written about by Western people in 1548; however, they avoided prolonged European contact until the 20th century. Christian missionaries did not gain a foothold in Achuar society until the 1940s and 1950s."Shuar" means person and "acha" means aguaje palm; Achuar means people of the aguaje pal. This palm grows abundantly in the amazon lowlands.

The Achuar have lived in and with the Amazon rainforest for thousands of years, and their wisdom represents an invaluable resource for organizations and people concerned with the loss of this irreplaceable treasure.

As custodians of the rain forest, the Achuar maintain a rich culture, including systems of economic and social organization based on the intricate natural rhythms of their environment.

According to the Achuar beliefs "every plant and animal in the rainforest, has its own soul and life, almost a human spirit. They are extremely knowledgeable about the medicinal value of each plant.

Luis was also very good at the art of story telling.

In addition to ecotourism, the Achuar hunt, fish and raise manioc, sweet potato, and other crops. Approximately 21% of their income is from handicrafts such as pottery and jewelry pottery, and jewelry is usually made by the women; hunting tools are usually made by males.

Reference:

"Achuar | The Pachamama Alliance." Achuar.March 26, 2015.

The People of the Aguaje Palm

The Achuar people are indigenous to the amazon near Ecuador and Peru. Their name means 'the people of the aguaje palm,' which shows how close they are to the Amazonian rain forest. They live off of resources from the Amazon and believe in living with the spirits of the forest harmoniously by hunting animals respectfully and with moderation. They use plants not only for food, but also use them in some of their rituals. The ayahausca is a vine that they use in rituals and to help give them visions that help them make vital decisions pf their life. They believe that plants also have spirits and believe that gardens can be perilous places and host bad spirits.

Reference:

Karel."Nature-Travel, Healing and the Beauty of the World"

March 26, 2015.