HELP PREVENT THE EXTINCTION OF THE ANCIENT SAPARA PEOPLE

Vimal Pedro Pael is organizing this fundraiser.

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The language, culture and communities of the ancient Sapara people are at great risk of extinction. Living in isolation, deep within the Amazon Rainforest, help is desperately needed to ensure their future survival.

Kurikindi is a respected global elder and representative of original people worldwide. Himself born in the Amazon Rainforest, he is often looked to for help and support where there is great need. He was invited to visit a Sapara community on his most recent travels in Ecuador. This campaign and urgent request for help is brought to you by Kurikindi.

THE STORY OF THE SAPARA PEOPLE

The Sapara communities are original natives of the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador and Peru, residing between the Napo River and the Pastaza. The Sapara people are a people who live in harmony with the rainforest. With a deep respect for their environment they walk with reverence for nature, holding its sacredness in all that they do.

‘We believe that everything has a spirit. The Sapara work in the spirit and dream world and know that the earth, rivers, trees and all things have a spirit just like us humans beings. We understand that we are not superior, nor are we owners of the land or the forest. We are equal to all other life” (www.naku.com.ec)

In the early 20th century the Sapara were a Nation of 200,000 but since this time, with the rising demands of extractive industries their numbers have declined. The demand for rubber led to the destruction of their homes, the environment and saw the enslavement of Sapara men into rubber production and the sexual abuse and enslavement of women and young girls. This genocide of their people has resulted in the survival of only a small number of communities. There are now only 600 reported Sapara in existence with less than 300 in the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest.

With the loss of so many in their nation it follows that these people and their way of life is now at risk of extinction. Today there are only 4 known Sapara over the age of 70 who speak the language fluently. Traditionally in many original communities, teachings, wisdom and language are passed down from elders to children. With so few Sapara elders remaining, the passing down of their sacred way of life is disappearing for the next generations to come. In the remote Sapara community of 20 that Kurikindi visited - thirty minutes by air into the rainforest - half of the community are children, many of whom have been orphaned

In 2001, UNESCO declared the Sapara language as an Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, meaning that the spoken word of the Sapara is a unique legacy at threat of extinction, and is both crucial to the cultural identity of its people and invaluable to humanity’s understanding of its own diversity and origins. There is, however, no official support or funding being offered to the Sapara people.

MR JUAN VARGAS

Mr Juan Vargas, a resident of Puyo, has chosen to spend much of his time within this community. As a passionate linguist, his mission is to support the survival of the Sapara language. Juan utilises the creative process of music and songs to teach the Sapara language to the children in the community, offering them some hope to hold onto their ancestral way of life. With the community only accessible by plane, Juan uses his own money to fund his efforts at a cost of $800 for each trip. This situation however is unsustainable. Support is needed to start addressing some of the basic needs for the children and the greater need to avoid the extinction of the Sapara people.

OUR AIM

We would like to start a Community Fund to raise £15000 in support of Juan’s efforts for this Sapara community. The fund will be used in the following areas:

SHORT TERM

To develop the music and linguistic programme for the children, helping to support the preservation of the Sapara language
To support the educational needs of the children in the community with books, resources and musical instruments which will further support the music programme and their educational development
To support Juan with his travel expenses so he can continue to teach the children within the community
To provide essential maintenance work of radio equipment which provides the community with essential contact with the world outside the Amazon.
To provide essential tools and equipment, machetes, clothing, shoes, bags, personal hygiene/medical items, seeds, farming and woodworking tools, chickens for breeding, all needed by the community to maintain and develop their home.

LONG TERM

To work with the community supporting them in building a foundation of economic sustainability, providing independence and better security for their future survival.
To continually develop access to education, ensuring children have the funding and support to continue their studies in the local town when they reach the required age.
To support the preservation of the Sapara culture and traditional ancestral teachings within the educational programme so that the essence of the Sapara people survives for many generations to come.

KURIKINDI

Kurikindi, the Golden Hummingbird, was born in the rainforest of Ecuador, into a long lineage of shamans, dating back thousands of years and started his shamanic training at an early age. Having been born to parents, both of whom were shamans, Kurikindi was treated differently from the outset; it was recognised that he too was born with the ability to be a shaman. With the balance of the divine masculine and feminine energies, he was able to synchronise and develop his essence clearly and his connection to the divine came naturally. From there he developed his wisdom and understanding of the Divine, the universe, Pachamama (Mother Earth) and many plant medicines.

Kurikindi teaches many students from diverse backgrounds, imparting the wisdom that has taken him 4 decades to acquire whilst also travelling around the world for numerous workshops, retreats and offerings.

Known globally as a respected elder, Kurikindi is a prominent figure within the Mother Earth Delegation of the United Original Nations. Within this role he shares his visions, knowledge and wisdom which he radiates from his heart, to support the unity of people from all nations and to bring good life and balance to the world. With a lifelong dedication and commitment to his path and to humanity, he brings a pure and ancient wisdom, with the foundation of his work rooted in the virtues of love, compassion and forgiveness.

HOW CAN YOU HELP

We are all experiencing difficult times globally where many are suffering with very little help. The suffering in the world seems all too immense to begin to find a solution, leaving many of us feeling helpless. The heaviness of the current economic climate however bears more weight on those who have the least. We can only preserve the future for our world’s children by taking action, by making a contribution to the hardship many are facing today. By embracing each-other as brothers and sisters, sons and daughters and not turning a blind eye we choose to take responsibility to lend a helping hand to our neighbours and bring in a new era. Let us make a start today and become part of the change we wish to see in the world around us. Through your contribution we begin to weave strength into the lifeline for the Sapara people, adding to a greater hope for their future survival.

Please donate and share this campaign with family, friends and on your platforms. We will share updates on how funds raised are spent through our instagram account kurikindikawsay. This campaign is the beginning of the Community Fund which we aim to develop further in the future to support the original communities of the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest.