"The aim of our family, belonging to the nation of Kichwa, is the protection of nature in its wholeness; such as the tradition and old customs of our village have existed for centuries, is there a cohabitation with the environment in harmony. Large scale tree logging for road building and cattle raising must be stopped. At a place where the plant- and animal world are endangered, we want to create again an atmosphere where the connection between people and nature is harmonious."

As of last year 2006 there were oil-reservoirs discovered nearby and the horror of destruction is at the door-step once again. The Mamallacta family see no other possibility but to acquire this area of about 36 hectares near the Napo Galeras Park, covered with ancient flora and fauna. Nelson and Flora received the vision to create an open space center for the gathering of people, providing a venue for indigenous encounters, education and exchange; this is to be facilitated on intercultural as well as international levels. This project is to be composed of five parts and is to stand in the bigger context of the protection of rainforest and the keeping of their traditional culture.

Planned for the center are: a schooling program for children from the surrounding comunidades that go to governmental schools to spend one day a week in this open space to learn about the knowledge of their ancestors, as taught through: agriculture, regional history, their own language (Quichua), handicrafts, music, dance, making natural medicines, traditional architecture, ...etc. there will be lesson plans around the plant communities based out of an ethnobotanical garden featuring medicinal plants, useful plants and nutritional food plants. A special kind of a garden. Made with respect; they are a well integrated into the jungle with a high concentration of useful species. a further integral part of this project is to function as a biologist`s outpost for the respectful research of the animal- and plant-specimen that live here, are rare, or threatened by extinction. Here the deep-rooted native knowledge systems will be shared and integrated in with visiting researchers ways of knowing. links to the public for healing ceremonies with Don Casimiro also there will be a large seed-bank with relevant documentation and catalogueing of local as well as imported plants, in collaboration with Seed Guardians Network. Nelson and Elias are working on compiling a book about traditional healing- and medicinal plants. as a platform for communication, workshops and culture-based meetings

Nelson (born in *1965), son of Don Casimiro a yachac (shaman) and his teachings. He grew up bilingual and went to school as per usual, and studied social sciences at Tena. He returned to his native jungle, where he could bring his political activities into expression.
Flora (born in *1967), grew up bilingual as a Quichua native in a neighbouring comunidad, the daughter of a local school teacher. She lived in Quito for some time where she finished college with the title "agronoma" (farmer). She then returned to the jungle to teach the children in natural plant-medicine, environmental education, languages, etc.

Flora, Dana and Nelson Mamallacta Chongo

For the realization of these plans we are very thankful and open for any support, contacts and ideas. For the first step, -to acquire the threatened terrain, it is important to get financial support. With a donation you get to become a patron and active participant of the project. Still, equally welcome and invited by the family are people who are interested in parts of the project and want to contribute to its growth! Feel welcome to bring your abilities to this place, like: healing, teaching, crafts.....

vision of the finca nukanchi kawsay