In an intimate “Day in the Life” of the Achuar people, Inia Ikiampri follows members of the Kapawi community in Achuar Territory in the Amazon Basin of Ecuador portraying how different generations go about their lives in the heart of the Amazon forest. The film explores themes of Achuar land, language and culture at the intersection of tradition and modernity.
Chikuish Tentets
Chikuish Tentets Is a father, cultural standard bearer, and community leader in Kapawi.
Ruth Tentets
Ruth Tentets Is a recent graduate of the TUNA school, The Kapawi Community’s educational hub. Ruth maintains her culture and plans to give back to her community; Ruth speaks both Achuar and Spanish and plans to attend nursing school.
Graciela Tentets
Graciela Tentets Graciela works alongside Ruth to maintain their culture and traditions. She also plans to attend University and return to Kapawi to help sustain their way of life.
Narankas Mukucham
Narankas Mukucham Is the director of the TUNA School in the Kapawi Community and is responsible for the education and training of the next generation of Achuar leaders.
Johnny Saant
Johnny Saant Is a cultural leader who is training with his uncle, a Shaman, to continue their spiritual practices in Kapawi.
The ancestors of the Achuar people have lived along the Pastaza and Morona rivers for thousands of years. In 1992, the Achuar were granted legal title over 680,000 hectares of the 800,000 in total that comprise their ancestral territory. This has allowed the Achuar to manage their natural resources according to their own vision; except for underground/mineral resources, to which the Ecuadorian State still holds title. The Achuar have a robust governance structure that has allowed them to keep oil extraction and logging out of their territory for 60 years. The Achuar have shown a strong capacity for managing their territory, and elect vibrant and visionary individuals to hold leadership roles in their 88 communities, 21 associations, and in the Achuar Nation of Ecuador (NAE), the organization representing the Achuar people and to strengthen their guardianship of the rainforest. The Achuar governance model is participatory, with delegates from the 21 associations meeting annually in a congress to hear about the work done by the NAE, to learn about the work done by outside organizations, and to decide the priorities of the Achuar nation for the future year. The congress includes men, women, elders, youth, and other special guests.
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