When a language dies the world loses knowledge of its cultural context, underpinnings and history, the community’s intergenerational interactions, socio-economics, class structures, and, yes, religion; resulting in a loss of mutual respect and communication between cultures all stumbling blocks to true world peace.

Of the five to seven thousand languages spoken in the world today the majority of these are the mother-tongues of indigenous groups. Linguists write on the power of language to create grassroots peace and fear that many of these languages will soon vanish. To the indigenous groups who speak them, these languages are more than a means of communication; they confer on their speakers a sense of identity and uniqueness. Language is about who we are. Losing our language means losing our culture, how we see our place in the world and how we connect and communicate with those who came before us and those who follow us.

This loss breeds those of a dominant language the opportunities for subjugation: i.e. Orwell’s dystopian “1984”.

To bring a true sense of historic and cultural identity and to reinforce social values, ethical fundaments and trust in governmental and social institutions, an urgent mission for saving languages is needed so future generations retain their holistic heritage.

How do we save a language?

Our project is to document through photography and video the language and lifestyle of the KuKama Indians and their interaction with the wildlife of the Amazon rainforest. We will produce portrait and way of life images captioned in KuKama language with Spanish/English translations. Video interviews of the spoken KuKama language will include Spanish/English subtitling.

The KuKama Indians of the San Juan de Yanayacu live on the Yanayacu de Yacapana River, a tributary of the upper Amazon River, 90-miles south of Iquitos, Peru. They, with their neighboring Indian communities, own 1-million acres of protected rainforest, land that is free from timber and oil consortiums, nearly 90% unexplored. Conservation and protection of their ancestral rainforest is of their highest priority. Over generations they have accumulated an extensive knowledge of the plants and animals.

Therefore, part of our project is a photographic/video study of selected flora and fauna important to community life with captions/subtitling in KuKama, Spanish, and English.

By using photography and video to help preserve a language we create a visual awareness that can speak to many. And, importantly, educational tools for the Indian children so that they are encouraged to carry on the cultural traditions of their ancestors.

Language translations and wildlife identification are in collaboration with Juan Carlos Palomino Berndt, a 30-year veteran jungle guide for researchers studying the Amazon Rainforest.

Support for our project is provided by the Amazon Refuge Wildlife Conservation Center built in partnership with the San Juan de Yanayacu Community with a mission to provide employment for the local people so they may live productive and sustainable lives, in harmony with nature.

Funds raised go towards:

1. Those on-camera for their time and photo-release.
2. Community guides for their assistance locating wildlife/building blinds.
3. Those giving their expertise for translations.
4. Use of community boats and gas.
5. Local lodging and food.
6. 4 point and shot digital cameras and laptop that will be given to the school so that community members can continue documenting activities and events.

Please help us bring a future to the KuKama language. Thank you. Ti ini canata [KuKama meaning: Hágase la luz, Let there be light].

___________________________________________________________

JOIN US for our jungle Survival Trek.

Join our crew with expert Indian guides for a survival trek learning about the plants and animals of the Amazon jungle. Rustic camping.

Includes lodge accommodations, meals, transport from/to Iquitos. Hang out with us! Guaranteed on-camera. Screen credit as Associate Producer. Collector’s Edition DVD of our journey!

Hands-on Learning experience:

Construction of lean-to, how to select a site, the woods to use to set up shelter; how to use irapay palm fronds to rainproof.

Construction of fire: wood that will have hard, dry interior even when waterlogged; use of copal resin as fire starter.

Sources of pure water: Immature yarina fruits, puca huasca vine and cano huasca vine.

Sources of food: Palm fruits, palm hearts from Euterpe and Iriartea genera, edible beetle grubs, legumes, especially from Inga genus, using barbasco sap to stun fish, canabrava to build fish trap, tamshi vine to make animal snare.

Raft construction: Recognition of balsa wood, tied together with tamshi vine, oar from remo caspii.

Mosquito repellent made from Nasutitermes termites.

Weapons: Fishing spear from cumaceba, bow from cashapona, string from chambira, arrowshafts from bamboo and arrowheads from cumaceba.

Survival Medicines: Venomous snakebite--piripiri leaves, venomous insect--curarina bark, fever--sanango root, disinfectant--pichirina sap, field dressing--fiber inside bark of machimango, antiparasitical--oje sap, dysentery or gastrointestinal distress--hierba luisa leaves.

                         Get this Perk with your 2500$ donation.