Proyecto Tuana
The Atatakuinjia Sapara community, located deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon along the Pinduyaku River, consists of 28 people across five extended households, accessible only by a 45-minute flight from...
Learn More About This Project
About this Project
The Atatakuinjia Sapara community, located deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon along the Pinduyaku River, consists of 28 people across five extended households, accessible only by a 45-minute flight from Puyo or a multi-day jungle trek. Founded 20 years ago to preserve Sapara language, culture, and ancestral knowledge, the community relies on subsistence practices like farming yuca and plantains, sustainable hunting, fishing, and crafting traditional ceramics and chicha. The community depends on the women-led Tuana Project, meaning "Mountain" in Sapara, an educational and cultural tourism initiative, for income. This project will invest in key improvements such as upgrading tourist cabins, installing a water filtration system, creating a website and social media presence, and producing promotional materials. The grant will primarily fund these improvements, enhancing visitor experiences, ensuring health and safety, and increasing the project’s visibility, empowering the community to sustain its cultural identity and environmental stewardship while fostering economic resilience.