In November 2015, Colombia’s University of the Amazon (Universidad de la Amazonia), in partnership with ACT, held a certificate course for indigenous representatives on the development of self-administered studies and surveys for the proper land use zoning and administration of indigenous territories in the Colombian Amazon.
In India, November 11 marked the beginning of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, when Indian Hindus—and other Hindus around the…
On November 11, 2015, in a historic and positive development for the indigenous peoples of Caquetá in Colombia, the departmental…
On September 12, 2015, Anna Nantawi and Ketoera Aparaka, two indigenous women from Suriname’s remote rainforest interior, departed for India to begin a six-month solar power installation training course to benefit their community. When the women return, they will be able to install, maintain and repair solar energy systems, and then train others to replicate their work.
“As one of Amazon Conservation Team’s (ACT) founders, I have long observed the International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP) with a feeling of affinity, as both organizations were born in the last decade of the 20th century—certainly a more idealistic time in the NGO world—with a focus on Indigenous empowerment.” -Liliana Madrigal, Senior Director of Program Operations
“Am I ready to hang up my spurs and have tenure and retire and play golf? No, of course not.…
On September 11, 2015, a celebratory event was held at the Externado University in Bogotá, Colombia marking the beginning of a life-changing adventure for Ercilia Paitekudo and Maria Encarnación Sueroque, two Huitoto women from Cuemani and Guacamaya in the middle Caquetá River region.
In August 2015, a groundbreaking event took place in the village of Ulupuene in the Brazilian Amazon: internet connectivity arrived.
ACT Suriname is partnering with the Barefoot College in the Solar Engineering Training Program. Through this program, two indigenous Trio women from Tepu will complete a six-month training in India from October 2015 – March 2016. Solar energy in the villages will provide communities with a clean and more reliable source of energy.
In May 2015, ACT President Dr. Mark Plotkin asked our supporters to donate to a unique project in honor of his 60th birthday.
The project—to create the Trio Indian Shaman’s Encyclopedia—is the capstone on the work Mark began with the Trio people more than 30 years ago and will serve as a guide for tribal peoples throughout the Amazon seeking to protect oral shamanic knowledge.