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Showing posts from February, 2007

Natalia Tomalak a poland student of ecoturism with the Shwar Chaman in the National Park Sangay

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My experience with Shuar Shaman and natural medicine took place in Santa Ines between 18th and 25th of January. I stayed with a family of Rafael Shakay whose grandfather was a well known Shaman. Rafael himself is not a Shaman but has knowledge of the medicinal plants and shamanic rituals. There are other members of his family - his uncles that are Shamans. The Shaman in Santa Ines is a young man, that is for shamans, at 42 years old. He lived and practiced shamanism in Tena for many years. Now he just returned to Santa Ines and does not have his sacred place yet. He was chosen to become a Shaman by his father-shaman when he was 5 years old. As he was interested in that, old Shuar shamans started to teach him the techniques, rituals and medicinal plants. He needed 12 years to purify his body by using a special diet, not having relationships with women and many others restrictions that were strictly ordered by the old shaman. It is the shaman-teacher who decides when an adept is rea

Carina Sjoberg-Hawke an English student of History in the National Park Sangay

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Atillo, Zuñac and Macas Atillo, 3100m There are about 640 people in the community of Atillo. It is a community that has always been, if not always officially recognised, for centuries, even before the Incas. But there originally there were no natives; the ancestors were actually from Colombia , or some from the Orient or Coast. Over 200 years ago there were two lots of indigenous peoples living in the surrounding areas, Pruhes and Shuars. Then came the Colombians, who settled in the area which is now Atillo. The Spaniards followed. With each new nation over the years a mix of nations naturally occurred. The Spaniards brought with them horses and eventually roads; trading became commonplace, but distances were of course still very remote. Until the arrival of automobiles, riding horses to Riobamba , for example, took two days or more. And even after the arrival automobiles, this would still be the case as the roads were not always passable by vehicles.

Carina Sjoberg-Hawke`s report of an English student of Historia in Atillo

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La casa de los voluntarios y turistas Los Saskines; restaurant, home, mountains and eco-route Durante un mes yo vivía y trabajaba en un restaurante se llama Los Saskines. Toma su nombre de las montañas que domina en el fondo, que son en parte de los páramos en la comunidad de Atillo (h.3000m sobre el nivel del mar). The landscape is somewhat like the highlands of Scotland and near The Lakes of Atillo, a tourist attraction and local haven for tranquillity and fishing, reminiscent of Norway . The lakes and the rest of the moor are surrounded by mountains leading off in one direction to Macas (c.1500m above sea level) in the Oriente – the warm jungle parts of Ecuador - and in the other Guamote or Riobamba - cities of the Andes , South of Quito. Los páramos is a life..... more press here

Evaluation Project Wouter Kakebeeke

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Evaluation Project Wouter Kakebeeke Dutch student of International Business Wouter Kakebeeke Voluntario Holandés que desarrolla del periódico pedagógico Mirada. posted by Ecotrackers @ 8:41 AM 1.1 Ecotrackers Ecotrackers is a non profit organization that works directly with students and volunteers from all over the world, to develop intelligent tourism to preserve the biodiversity and cultural diversity of Ecuador, working to improve the adverse conditions that afflict many communities throughout the country. Intelligent tourism is defined by the foundation as “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Ecotrackers works primarily with Indigenous, Mestizo and African-Latino communities situated close to national parks and other publicly protected areas since August 2000. We work alongside other
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