Napo Runa Kichwa people relief campaign

The Napo Province in the northern Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest, is the home of 33,000 indigenous peoples– The Napo Runa. Unfortunately, the combination of social inequalities and lack of access to healthcare and food markets has put them at a high risk of any health issues. Indigenous regional organizations such as COICA, CONFENIAE and also local as FOIN have expressed that the Ecuadorian State has further marginalized the Indigenous Peoples by excluding them from support during emergencies. “The indigenous nationalities of the Amazon are facing the persistence of forms of inequality and discrimination towards indigenous peoples, together with the weak institutional coverage of public health services in our territories, place us at the forefront of risk in the face of the spread of illnes in the Amazon” –CONFENIAE statement (here  for more info in Spanish). The Napo Runa people rely on traditional food systems and also in the access to outside food for survival. The Napo Runa communities that compose the Federation of Indigenous People of Napo (FOIN) have been facing alcoholism, diabetes, cancer, lack of job sources; and water and soil contamination issues due to mining and oil industry. In order to protect the community against external issues, the FOIN in coordination with community members have blocked the entrance to their territories. We want to support these efforts, especially the effort to protect elders and individuals at risk, by collecting money to purchase food, masks, gloves and diapers. There is an urgent need, particularly in regards to elders who are considered the “living libraries” of the Napo Runa, as our system of knowledge is based on storytelling and passed on through elders. Not only the lives, but also the continuity of the Napo Runa culture are at risk. Please support this relief campaign. The goal is to protect the elders, especially those who live alone or are taking care of grandchildren, single parents as women, and those with mobility impairments. Our support involves a “minga”, which is a social and communal activity to meet the community’s needs collectively. Using minga, the fund will go to buying food (markets usually are outside of their communities, requiring them to travel long distances), purchasing health supplies, and urgent necessities. Our volunteers in coordination with FOIN will arrange specific places for the distribution of food and will work to safely deliver the items to the elders and people in urgent need. The money will also go to promoting regular radio shows providing public health information in the Kichwa language. Indigenous communities speak the Kichwa language, and currently most of the public health information is broadcasted in Spanish. Your support will be directly deposited to FOIN leaders (Mr. Patricio Shiguango, President), and monitored by indigenous professionals.