Please click on the link to support: http://gf.me/u/xyxf3b The families of Kuntanawa and the river communities are currently in need of basic food and water security for 1,500 people. With the recent outbreak of COVID-19, the government has issued a quarantine closing off the rivers and airlines for a minimum of a few weeks. The reality is, this river is our only avenue for bringing in food and supplies for the survival of our people who have important work to do. This has created an urgency in providing the support that guarantees a better quality of life and protection for the rainforest communities. Our initiative is to search for support to apply a system of fish farming to complement the food security of our communities. Our plan is to build 10 fish farms extending to 8 communities supporting 250 families. We have a huge urgency to be able to transport the digging equipment for the construction of these ponds since the river water levels are going down with the end of the rainy season arriving at the end of May. With this support, we can take our first step in creating our vision of a fully sustainable community here in Kuntanawa. We are preparing a valley full of fruits, vegetables, a poultry farm, and building a reservoir for family fish farming. The project we are working towards now with the most urgency is for fish farming, keeping in mind that the rivers are increasingly contaminated and dry leading to the disappearance of many fish species that existed before. This reservoir will protect the people from fishing in these waters while protecting fish species that are close to extinction. Your help can provide our families in the rainforest with the resources we need to continue building on a more responsible relationship with our ecosystems. Together we can protect the plants and animals from deforestation and extinction, promoting peace and harmony between humans and nature. BRIEF HISTORY OF THE KUNTANAWA NATION The Kuntanawa People are 1 of the 13 tribes of the Pano linguistic trunk that live in the State of Acre in the Brazilian Amazon. With the arrival of the rubber tappers in the Amazon in the 19th century and on the land the Kuntanawa live on, it generated a serious level of conflict between the Indigenous and non-indigenous practically causing their genocide. The non-indigenous rubber extractors captured and enslaved the tribe members through latex extraction for rubber production. While also exploring our lands for poaching of exotic animals for the commercialization of their fur, removing wood and other riches from the tribes. This caused a great impact on people. Tribes that did not surrender to the rubber tappers, were totally or partially decimated. Our ancestors were not prepared to fight by taking human lives, they only acted to protect themselves and the rainforest. The Kuntanawas in 1911, 5 members were captured being that only 2 survived and today they are reconstructing their history. Today the population has reached approximately 500 people made up of Indigenous, White, and Black. The Kuntanawas that survived were immediately forbidden to speak our language, to practice our customs, our beliefs, and traditions. This led to the situation lasting many years, up until almost the present moment, where our Kuntanawa Nation was not officially recognized because the government believed we had been completely exterminated. Now our numbers are close to 500 and increasing. We are openly and non-violently working for the restoration of our culture, traditions and for the preservation of all the life in the rainforest. Here are some links to keep us together, and keep the conversation going on how to support the Kuntanawa: Website: kuntanawa.org Facebook: @kuntanawanation Instagram: @kuntanawanation Email: tribokuntanawa@gmail Youtube Channel: Kuntanawa Nation WE NEED YOUR HELP... This is a time of great transformation. We are reaching out to stay connected and to stay in unity during these new times. With climate change intensifying, world epidemics will become more prevalent and severe if we continue with deforestation, releasing excess CO-2, and not living our lives in the guardianship of Mother Earth. The Amazon is the largest and oldest rainforest on the planet, supplying over 30% of the world's oxygen and freshwater output. From the recent record deforestation fires in the past months, there has been a major decrease in this world-output of water and oxygen, resulting in a major Earth imbalance. It is time to take action in the best way we can, to protect our biological diversity from this great destruction that is happening on Earth caused by the human capitalistic system. Supporting the Guardians of the Forest; specifically the Kuntanawa Nation, you are taking part in this mission in guaranteeing the protection and existence of the Amazon for the balance of the planet.
