The Secoya and Cofan are both ethnic minorities. The last traditonal Elders are the living cultural heritage of the people. They are too few in number to withstand these types of storms. Their knowledge - and wisdom - is of critical importance for the survival of their culture. Provision of safe asylum and support for the remaining traditional plant medicine masters is vital at this time.

To ensure that inter-tribal animosities are dispersed quickly, a judicial enquiry is called for. In addition, meetings between the neighboring communities will help to strengthen solidarity.

"The Secoya people have been legally granted 40,000 ha. of territory on the

shores of the Aguarico and Shushufindi rivers in the Ne~ne~na area of the

Ecuadorian Amazon. .... the government has had a policy of ...[exploitation]

... in all of the indigenous lands according to their own interpretation concerning

their own laws of above ground and underground territorial rights.

The Secoya people have a different understanding of these rights, to them their

land is one whole....we as an ethnic people of the Ecuadorian Amazon reach out

to all friends and inform you of our situation."

Elias Piyahuaje 

Coordinator of O.I.S.E.

(Secoya Indigenous Organization of Ecuador)