The ‘FRONTIERE de VIE’ / Boundary of Life project

For over 20 years the Kichwa people of Sarayaku in Ecuadorian Amazonia has been struggling to defend their territory, biodiversity and immaterial heritage against the intrusion of oil companies.

In front of a predicament in which their very survival is at stake, opponents who are unwilling to buckle, lthe growth of the global population, the announced end of fossile energy resources, and Ecuador’s external debt... Sarayaku decided to carry out an international project inspired by the vision of elders. It will be implemented by mature men and women and transmitted to the younger generations.

It consists of planting large circles of flower bearing trees all around the territory, i.e. along more than 300 km. With time those circles will be visible from the sky and will thus indicate human presence in the forest, and also the determination of indigenous peoples to preserve their territories and protect their forest.

It is a symbol of Peace offered to mankind, and Sarayaku hopes that many, from all over the world, will be eager to join.

The project has started. 5,000 seedlings are ready in nurseries and the first expedition planted a first circle some 30 km from the village of Sarayaku in November 2006. Five other circles were planted in 2007. The next plantations should follow at a quick pace. We will keep you informed of how things are going in the current events page of this website and through a newsletter. Just subscribe.

This boundary, which the Kichwas call intheir language Great living way of flowers (Sisa Nambi), will also protect the Sarayaku community and several projects aiming at maintaining and retrieving their Tradition

Among these we find:

1. SASI WASI

Sasi Wasi is the privildeged place for local medicine and traditional knowledge. The knowledge of Yachaks is collected and implemented here. Sasi Wasi will consist of two locations, one for healing within the village and one for sharing traditional knowledge on a hill outside the village.
The foundation ‘France-Liberté’ (France) finances the first stage. We are looking for sponsors for the other stages.

2. SACHA RUNA

Sacha Runa will be a botanical garden of some 10 hectares with most plants used for traditional medicine and for food, cosmetics, construction, etc. You will walk through it on your way to SASI WASI, the centre of knowledge. One hectare has already been planted.

3. TAYAK WASI

Pre-school and primary school where classes are taught in both Kichwa and Spanish.
Teaching includes traditional lore: fairy tales, cosmovision, knowledge, etc…
A link will be created with the botanical garden and the centre for traditional knowledge.
TAYAK WASI has been working for several years.

Other projects are in the offing, such as video archives of ancestral knowledge. Sarayaku already has a film director and hopes to promote its works. A first video film SOY DEFENSOR DE LA SELVA will soon be available as a DVD.

Everybody can relate to these project by becoming the patron of a tree.

............................................................................................................................................................

PROJET EVOLUTION

Carte dynamique de la Frontière

Fichier pdf des emplacements




SPONSOR A TREE