Tsachila Indian Nation of Ecuador Cultural Exchange Visit

On Tuesday, October 23^rd 2012, College of Menominee Nation welcomed guests from the Tsachila Indian Nation of Ecuador. It was their first visit to the United States. College of Menominee Nation, CMN Sustainable Development Institute, and Menominee Tribal legislature representatives were excited and honored to welcome them to Menominee soil. “We are always interested in learning from other Tribes. It helps us understand our responsibility with other Indigenous Peoples,” said Dr. Verna Fowler during a welcome address, “It also helps us understand how lucky we are to live in the United States.”

Tsachila representatives Henrry and Diana Calazacon gave a presentation and shared their story. They were accompanied by UW Marathon County Host and Interpreter Dr. Ronald Lippi.

The Tsachila live on seven small reservations in Ecuador. The people are known for their medicines and diverse knowledge of rain-forest plant use. In addition, Tsachilas are fine musicians as well. “The music helps us harmonize with nature,” said Henrry Calazacon.  And although the Tsachila honor both a sun god and waterfall goddess, Henrry tells that their real god is nature itself.

Today, the Tsachila are faced with many challenges including deforestation and even relocation due to the discovery of oil under Tsachila reservation lands. Urban sprawl from nearby cities, primarily Santo Domingo, threatens land use development and accelerates pollution.

Legally owned Tsachila forests have been and continue to be taken over by loggers, ranchers, and issues are ignored by the Ecuadorian government. “When it came to standing up to firearms, it really wasn't much of a match,” said Henrry, “Traditionally, we have our own resources and food with fishing and harvesting, but now it’s becoming polluted. We have a very healthy diet when we can get our own food, but don’t know how much longer it will last.”

Though there have been lawsuits filed in efforts to keep rivers clean, Henrry notes that the big powerful influences disregard the Tsachila and have the following mentality: ‘They are a small minority, so who cares.’ Recently, developers found petroleum under one of the seven reservations. Henrry noted that although the people were initially happy to have this source of revenue, the Tribe was soon devastated when government officials began to re-claim the land for themselves and tell the Tsachila they must move. This is just one of the unjust issues the Tsachila people are facing today.

Like many First Nations, the Tsachila face the danger of losing cultural knowledge and traditional ways - for example, how to traditionally make Tsachila cotton skirts. As the great grandson of the one of the last great Tsachila chiefs, Henrry more than ever sees the importance of preserving this knowledge. “Many elder leaders are dying off, so we are now realizing the importance of teaching children the Tsachila culture,” said Henrry, “We are reaching out to others to learn and reach out to them.”

The Tsachila value and compliment the natural environment they live in. The people now face losing this valuable relationship with the forest and the medicinal plants within it. “We are very concerned about the loss of our plants,” said Henrry. To preserve the plants and the traditional knowledge behind them, the Tsachila want experts to visit and teach them how to preserve this knowledge and save their rapidly dwindling forests.  “In regard to scientific research, we welcome friends with open arms to share and learn from them as well,” said Henrry.

Today, the Tsachila face these issues by encouraging higher education; in the past, Tsachila people, particularly women, were not encouraged to go to school for fear of cultural loss. Tsafiki, their spoken language, is taught in reservation grade schools, but students must then attend public schools for middle, high school, and college. Diana Calazacon is a modern example of strong Tribal female leadership and is working toward a college degree. “I am studying law and am aspiring to be a lawyer; I want to help my tribe with legal issues,” said Diana.

After their presentation, Henrry and Diana fielded questions and met with Menominee Tribal Leaders Craig Corn, Gary Besaw, and Myrna Warrington. Craig Corn, Menominee Tribal Chairman, explained how Menominee government is run, especially in relation to legislation, election, and Tribal Sovereignty. CMN SDI wishes to thank our visitors for sharing their story with us.