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The Organisacion de la Nacionalidad Shiwiar en Pastaza, Amazonia Ecuatoriana
(ONSHIPAE) was formed over ten years ago by Shiwiar community
members who wanted to participate in the indigenous movement led by
organisations such as OPIP (Organisacion de Pueblos Indigenas de Pastaza).

ONSHIPAE elects leaders from amongst the participating communities and
has a Co-ordinator, Pascual Kunchikuy, who has led the development of the
organisation over the past few years, particularly regarding increased interaction
with the external world and the conservation of Shiwiar culture and territory.
ONSHIPAE is actively seeking ways in which to protect the environment and
cultural heritage in the form of proposals to assist Shiwiar communities.

These include:

1. Recording and transcripting the traditional Shiwiar stories told to children,
in order to preserve the cultural heritage, science and technology of the Indians.

2. Rejuvenation of virtually lost art forms through a marketing programme
which channels profits back to the communities and provides operating funds
for ONSHIPAE.

3. Establishment of a Ceramics Training Center for Shiwiar women, and
handicrafts for men, in order to recover skills lost through social change.

4. Health promotion training program in eight different communities

5. Scholarship for young Shiwiar Indians to study in areas where there is
access to high school education.

6. Improvement of runways for single engine aircraft to provide communities
with access to the outside world

7. Radio and telephone instalment to allow communication with the outside

8. Video documentation of traditional ways of life in the different Shiwiar
communities

9. Support of an elderly Shiwiar shaman and his students to continue training
in traditional herbal medicine.

Sarah Dixon - designed and coordinated the project and carried out research in ethnobotany

Hilary Kingston was treasurer, medical officer, and carried out research into snails and forest fauna

Anna Portch - carried out mapping, photography, and assisted Hilary

Juan Kunchikuy was coordinator, guide and interpreter extraordinaire

Pascual Kunchikuy acted as guide in the first phase and instigator of theproject. In the second phase, Pascual coordinated the project logistics from ONSHIPAE in Puyo.

Gonzalo Santi acted as a coordinator and mediator and at the time was the President of ONSHIPAE.

Ben Smith - carried out research in architecture and designed structures for use by visitors

Francisco Villamarin - researched fauna, particularly reptiles and ampbhibians, and helped with translation