Robin’s awakening is inspired and emboldened by journey’s into the pristine remote rainforest home of the Achuar and other indigenous people’s of Ecuador. Each year she leads a journey with the Pachamama Alliance. This describes a journey in January 2014 in conjunction with a Global Rights of Nature Summit.
The fundamental principles encapsulated by Rights of Nature ─ of Mother Earth ─ are deeply rooted in the ancient wisdom of indigenous peoples. The Achuar and Kichwa peoples of the Upper Amazon of Ecuador maintain their ancient traditions living in harmony with their rainforest home. It is no accident that in 2008 Ecuador became the first country in the world to recognize Rights of Nature in its Constitution.
We extended a special invitation to Rights of Nature, Rights of Mother Earth advocates and individuals who are looking to understand the essence of the movement on a deeper, more personal level. Eighteen participated in a rare opportunity to travel with global Rights of Nature leaders: Cormac Cullinan, South African environmental attorney and author of Wild Law, Tom Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network and Robin Milam, Administrative Director for Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature, on an intimate rainforest immersion journey. We traveled at the invitation of the indigenous peoples of the upper Amazon in partnership with The Pachamama Alliance. This unique journey was an opportunity to experience the Rights of Nature movement at its source while visiting with indigenous peoples in their ancestral rainforest homes.
We visited the iconic Kichwa community of Sarayaku and Achuar communities around the remote Kapawi Lodge. These communities have taken bold, internationally acclaimed stands to protect their rainforest home and preserve their ability to live in harmony with nature. Throughout our journey, we engaged in a multi-faceted examination of our relationship with the natural world, the recognition of Rights of Nature, and what it means personally, as a society, and globally to restore our natural balance with Mother Earth, Pachamama and all life. See more details of the journey in the Itinerary in the section below.
Each of us has unique gifts that are indispensable to the success of humanity at this time of unprecedented challenge and opportunity. We returned from our Journey with greater awareness of these very gifts and how to use them to make a difference, having been freshly recalibrated to the rhythms of the natural world. It was truly a life altering journey.
The Pachamama Alliance and its sister organization, Fundación Pachamama supported the inclusion of Rights of Nature in Ecuador’s Constitution and are founding members of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature.
Journey Leader, Robin Milam first journeyed to the rainforest with Pachamama in 1997 and has been leading Pachamama Journeys for many years. Participants have claimed “this is a journey of many lifetimes“.
It was an AMAZING TRIP!!!
For future trips, visit Pachamama Journeys: Plan Your Journey at http://www.pachamama.org/journeys/plan. Pat Jackson is our Travel Consultant at Pachamama Journeys who has been coordinating our journeys for many years. Pat will coordinate details of your registration with you.
For questions and additional information, contact Pat Jackson, Travel Consultant for Pachamama Journeys at pat.jackson@pachamama.org or by phone at (360) 293-1806.
For more information about Pachamama Journeys, visit: http://www.pachamama.org/journeys
Rights of Nature – Amazon Rainforest Wisdom Immersion
Itinerary
(Please note, itinerary is subject to change due to weather and other factors.)
Friday, January 17th: Cafe Cultura, Quito
Arrival, group stays at charming Café Cultura in Quito.
Saturday, January 18th: Tena/Puyo
Group meets for breakfast followed by a welcome and orientation meeting. Travel by chartered bus over one of the highest passes in Ecuador before descending the Andes. Travel through the mysterious cloud forests to the town of Tena on the edge of the Amazon rainforest. In the afternoon, we will have the opportunity to participate in a Rights of Nature Symposium hosted by a collective of Ecuadorian organizations with Cormac Cullinan, Tom Goldtooth, Natalia Greene, and other global Rights of Nature advocates.
Sunday, January 19th: El Jardin, Puyo
Continue the Rights of Nature dialogues with Indigenous and global leaders at the Conference in Tena. We will explore the lush high Amazon environs around Tena before continuing on by bus to the quaint hotel, El Jardin in the small town of Puyo. We will receive a special briefing about entering the rainforest.
Monday, January 20th: Sarayaku
The immersion begins! Our chartered bus will bring us to the indigenous pueblo of Canelos where we’ll board large motorized dug-out canoes. We will travel by canoe for several hours down the Bobonaza river to the remote Sarayaku Kichwa village, our home for the next three days and nights. We will continue our dialogues on a more profound experiential level as we immerse ourselves in the land and traditions of this millennial culture.
Tuesday, January 21st: Sarayaku
Early morning dream sharing. Share in village activities and cultural traditions. Set out on guided rainforest hike to learn about the spectacularly diverse fauna and flora. Experience firsthand the relationship our Sarayaku hosts hold with the natural world around us.
Afternoon siesta. In the evening, we may have an invitation to participate in a shamanic ceremony with a revered elder Yachak (shaman).
Wednesday, January 22nd: Sarayaku
Early morning meeting with shaman. Rest and reintegration time. Afternoon time on the river for swimming, fishing and enjoying the peaceful environment. Evening cultural sharing and traditional feast with the Community.
Thursday, January 23rd: Kapawi
In the morning, we’ll bid our farewells and fly further into the rainforest to Achuar territory. From our remote landing strip, we will take a beautiful canoe ride down the Pastaza and Capahuari Rivers to the award-winning Kapawi Lodge, owned and operated entirely by the Achuar people. We will enjoy a leisurely lunch followed by a hike with our Achuar guide, learning about the rich biodiversity, medicinal plants and profound spiritual connection the Achuar have with their land.
Optional night hike to learn about the unique nocturnal life of the tropical rainforest.
Friday, January 24th: Kapawi or Village
After breakfast we will travel by canoe to an Achuar village to participate in a cultural exchange (feel free to bring small instruments, songs and dances for sharing), and an attractive display of Achuar hand-made artisan items (for purchase in support of the community and culture). Return to Kapawi Lodge for rest and solo time.
Later in the afternoon, we’ll travel to an Achuar village to spend the night where we may be invited to participate in a traditional ceremony with an elder Achuar shaman.
Saturday, January 25th: Kapawi
After breakfast in the community and a morning sharing circle with the shaman, we will return to Kapawi Lodge for rest and solo time.
After a leisurely lunch, we’ll head out onto the Capahuari river for floating in kayaks or dugout canoes, swimming, fishing or simply being in this lush, tranquil yet vibrant ecosystem.
Sunday, January 26th: El Jardin, Puyo
Early morning bird and animal watching before breakfast. Depart Kapawi and fly to the small town of Shell where our bus will take us back to the nearby El Jardin hotel. Situated on the edge of the rainforest, with nourishing local food and redwood hot tubs, it is the perfect place to relax and integrate our rainforest immersion.
Monday, January 27th: Cafe Cultura, Quito
A day of completion, commitments and celebration. Morning circle to share experiences, learnings, and commitments for returning home. Drive back through the Avenue of the Volcanoes to Quito area for farewell dinner and lodging.
Tuesday, January 28th: Departures
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