Support the Huni Kuin Village of Espelho da Vida

In collaboration with the following organizers & supporters of the Huni Kuin people of Aldeia Espelho da Vida:

Davi Leon of Ireland

Michael Sung & Marja Noot of Estonia

Abraham Lozanobrioso of Spain

Kauany de Araujo Goncalves of Brazil (spouse of Chief Tuim Nova Era)

Tomas Nazler of the Czech Republic

Rafael Camargo of Brazil

We are humbly asking for your support for the Huni Kuin village of Aldeia Espelho da Vida, led by my friend and teacher Chief Tuim Nova Era, to build much-needed infrastructure that will vastly improve the lives of his people and serve as a first-step towards implementation of similar projects throughout the other Huni Kuin villages of the Humaita River.

Paje Busa, the spiritual leader of Aldeia Espelho da Vida, is also the political chief of all of the Huni Kuin villages of the Humaita River. What happens at Espelho da Vida can thus positively impact the governance and development of all of the indigenous villages of the Humaita River and beyond.

1. Ecological toilets and showers have become a necessity as the village continues to grow and welcome visitors from Brazil and abroad. As many of you know, they currently use dry toilets. When the rain comes and it floods these areas, it has led to contamination of the village's water supply in the past. Ecological toilets would vastly improve the sanitation concerns of this village and serve as a model implementation for the other villages of this region to adopt as a priority as well.

2. Sustainable farming requires the purchase of equipment so that the villagers can start to grow their own fruits and crops. Their daily sustenance at the moment comes largely from fishing and hunting. With the purchase of proper equipment, this village can enjoy bountiful harvests of Amazonian fruits and vegetables. Any harvests beyond their own needs can then be sold or traded with the other nearby villages, allowing the indigenous people of this region better health and less dependence upon purchases from the city of Tarauaca.

Chief Tuim Nova Era also would like to create a fishery, similar to that created by Ashaninka leader Benki Piyako, that has proven to be successful and sustainable for the Ashaninka people.

What has resonated most with me in my work with Chief Tuim Nova Era and his daughter Yeke Huni Kuin, have been their dedicated focus towards improving the welfare of their village; as well as their overall vision of unifying and fortifying the spiritual traditions of all indigenous peoples of the Amazon Rainforest.

More concretely, Chief Tuim Nova Era has again invited (and confirmed) the formal attendance of delegations from the Shanenawa, Shawãdawa, and Noke Koi tribes at the New Year's Vivencia (2024) to be held at his village.

When these political and spiritual leaders arrive at this Huni Kuin village of Espelho da Vida, it would be wonderful to show the fruits of what an alliance between us (recipients of indigenous healing and humble students of the medicine) and trustworthy indigenous leaders such as Tuim Nova Era & Yeke Huni Kuin, can manifest and bring about for the betterment of all.

Haux haux.