Secret Sarayuku
‘Secret Sarayaku’ depicts the daily life of the indigenous Kichwa community of Sarayaku, in the Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador. Their philosophy, Kawsak Sacha (The Living Forest), centres on the assumption that nature is a living, conscious and entitled entity. Within this entity, all elements live, have a spirit and are interconnected. Damage to any part of nature would cause a chain reaction affecting the earth as a whole. The Kichwa consider themselves as the guardians of the forest and see it as the Amazon’s duty to ensure balance in the world.
In 2012, the community won a lawsuit against the Ecuadorian government at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights because the state sponsored oil-exploration-expeditions in the Sarayaku region without their consent. However, the battle is not yet over as oil extraction is still going on in the area.
The Kichwa defy the contemporary system by living their lives as they have done for hundreds of years. At the same time, they use western technology – such as satellite communication and social media – to pressure authorities to respect their territory. ‘Secret Sarayaku’ shows a way of life that is poised between modernity and tradition. According to Vallejo, who has visited the community for years, this fusion can foster a philosophy that, if applied in our daily lives, could mean the difference between extinction and survival.
Misha Vallejo Prut (Ecuador/Israel, 1985) is a visual artist. His work treads the line between documentary and art. He is the author of three photography books.
‘Secret Sarayaku’ is a transmedial project consisting of a web documentary, a book, an exhibition and a podcast. The project offers a reinterpretation of the worldview of the Kichwa people. The podcast that can be heard here was produced by the Docking Station during an artist-in-residency programme in spring 2020, in collaboration with Emmie Kollau.
