Posts by Amazon Conservation Team
Ancestral Tides Annual Report
Sea turtles are living ambassadors from a deep and distant past. For Indigenous cultures along the coast, these ancient, 100 million-year-old creatures embody wisdom, endurance, and the power of creation. Through our Ancestral Tides program, the Amazon Conservation Team partners with Indigenous and local communities to protect sea turtles and the coastal ecosystems they call…
Read MoreThe Lost City, Hallucinogens, & Shamans
The Plants of the Gods Podcast, hosted by renowned ethnobotanist and ACT President and Co-Founder Dr. Mark Plotkin, is back June 4 for its seventh season! The first episode delves into the enduring allure of lost cities—a captivating blend of mystery, adventure, and the promise of forgotten knowledge. Mark recounts his journey as part of…
Read MoreColombia Embraces Indigenous Health as National Policy
Last month, in a historic act, Colombia’s national government formally adopted the Indigenous Intercultural Health System (SISPI) as national public policy by signing Decree 480. The President signed the decree alongside representatives from the Minga Indigena and other organizations from across Colombia. Indigenous organizations, Colombia’s Ministry of Health, and other state entities worked together for…
Read MoreThe Unresolved Fight For Indigenous Land Rights In Suriname
In recent years, indigenous communities across the Americas have fought hard to protect their land. From Standing Rock in the U.S. to protests in Brazil, indigenous peoples have demanded recognition of their rights. But in Suriname, a small country on South America’s northeast coast, indigenous land rights are still not legally guaranteed. Suriname is the…
Read MoreACT Inaugurates New Indigenous Cultural Center in the Brazilian Amazon
We live in an age of unprecedented global chaos—political turmoil, a seemingly endless cycle of conflict in the Middle East, and wildfires ravaging the Amazon, which continue to rage despite efforts to curb them after the 2019 crisis. Amid this global uncertainty, good news is rare, yet desperately needed. Fortunately, there is a beacon of…
Read MoreRights in the Territory: The Raizal Community
The Rights in the Territory initiative — “Derechos en el Territorio” in Spanish — has as its objective the effective dialogue of Colombia’s Constitutional court with ethnic communities in the country. The initiative is aimed at the promotion, dissemination and cultural and linguistic adaptation of the most significant decisions of the court benefiting these communities.
Read MoreYoung indigenous voices lead the future: ACT-Colombia’s Youth Advisory Board
A youth advisory board sponsored by ACT-Colombia works towards the inclusion of younger voices within our partner communities. It convenes nine members of 10 to 16 years of age from across six geographic regions of Colombia where our programs are present.
Read MoreHow the heart of the Amazon was protected
Five years ago, two indigenous territories in Colombia were expanded, establishing a protected area mosaic the size of Virginia.
Read MoreClean Cooking in the Colombian Caribbean & Andean Amazon
This project highlights the importance of considering cultural factors in clean cooking initiatives, offering a sustainable solution that respects local traditions and promotes healthier cooking practices in Colombia’s rural regions.
Read MoreThe first official map in Colombia in an indigenous language in danger of disappearing
For the first time in a century, the Agustín Codazzi Institute has decided to generate a map in the Cofán language. To achieve this, they partnered with the communities and their elders, who helped locate their sacred places. It represents the seed of a process to rescue cultures that are at risk of disappearing.
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