Jan 10, 2020
Ira Pastor, ideaXme exponential health ambassador, interviews Ms. Nemonte Nenquimo, President of the Waorani Pastaza Organization (CONCONAWEP - Coordinating Council of the Waorani Nationality of Ecuador).
This is an English language voice over of Ms Nenquimo's audio interview.
Ira comments: Today we have a fascinating guest joining us on the ideaXme show from a rather remote location, to discuss ethnomedicine, environmental conservation and protection, entheogens (the topic of bio-active plant substances for spiritual and religious practices), as well as the themes of bravery and perseverance.
Who Are the Waorani?
The Waorani (Huaorani) People, are a group of native Amerindians from the Amazonian Region of Ecuador. They comprise almost 4,000 inhabitants and primarily speak the Waorani language, a linguistic isolate that is not known to be related to any other language. Their ancestral lands are located between the Curaray and Napo rivers, about 50 miles (80 km) south of the city of El Coca. These homelands—approximately 120 miles wide by 100 miles (from north to south) – are extensively threatened by oil exploration and illegal logging practices. Over the last 40 years, the Waorani have shifted from a hunting and gathering society to live mostly in permanent forest settlements. However, an estimated five communities have rejected all contact with the outside world and continue to move into more isolated areas. The first “outsider” encounter of the Waorani was with American missionaries back in the 1950s. Culturally, the Waorani take a traditional “animist” worldview, where there is no distinction between the physical and spiritual worlds, and spirits are present throughout the world. As the Waorani once believed that the entire world was the forest (and used the same word for both), the rainforest remains the essential basis of their physical and cultural survival, and they have remarkably detailed knowledge of its geography and ecology. Hunting supplies a major part of the Waorani diet and is of cultural significance. Before a hunting or fishing party ensues, the community shaman will often pray for a day to ensure its success. While a joyful activity, hunting (even permitted animals) has ethical ramifications to the Waorani. To counterbalance the offense of hunting, they use the muscle relaxant poison, curare, in blow darts. Hunting with such darts is not considered killing, but "retrieving," similar to a process of say harvesting fruits from the trees. Plants, especially trees, continue to hold an important interest for the Waorani. Their store of botanical knowledge is extensive, ranging from knowledge of building and crafting materials, to poisons, to hallucinogens, to medicines. Significant trees for the Waorani include the peach palm (used for making spears and blowguns, as well as for its fruit), as well as fast-growing balsa wood, used for ceremonial purposes. The Waorani incorporate shamanic ethno-medicine using both the plant based hallucinogenic beverage Ayahuasca (discussed in detail on a previous episode with Dr. Dennis McKenna), as well as various forms of medicinal mushrooms with psilocybin type compounds.
Ms. Nemonte Nenquimois President of the Waorani Pastaza Organization(CONCONAWEP - Coordinating Council of the Waorani Nationality of Ecuador) whose focus is coordinating 12 different Waorani communities with a single voice to defend their territories. The Waorani view themselves as the true ancestral guardians of the jungle. Ms. Nenquimo attended Colegio Nacional Mixto Waorani. Ms. Nenquimo and CONCONAWEP were at the centre of a recent landmark legal victory against the Ecuadorian government leading to a half-million acres of Amazon rainforest protected from oil drilling and timber companies. Ms. Nenquimo does not speak English, so we have created an English voice over of her translated answers to my questions.
On This Show We Will Hear from Ms. Nenquimo: About Ms. Nenquimo's background and how she became a leader of the Waorani people. We'll hear about the Waorani people and the various tribal groups that are currently part of it. She'll detail the importance of the Amazon rainforest to meet the food needs of the Waorani, as well as the importance of the Amazon rainforest to meet the natural medicine needs of the Waorani people. The importance of the Amazon rainforest in spiritual ceremonies for the Waorani people.
Finally, we'll learn about the recent struggles and legal victories against the Ecuadorian government in protecting Waorani territories from oil and timber companies.
For the transcript of this interview please visit www.radiodideaxme.com. ideaXme is a global podcast, creator series and mentor programme. Mission: Move the human story forward!™ ideaXme Ltd.