Tamia Yura

Tamia Yura is a family group of ethnic Kichwas from the province of Napo, in the Ecuadorian Amazon south of the city of Quito.

The Etno-Agro-Ecological Center “TAMIA YURA” has 32 hectares of primary and secondary forest. In 2004, out of love of nature and interest in protecting the environment, the Center was born to fulfill one of the main goals of our family: to conserve and reforest different species of native plants, wood-producing, fruit-bearing, ornamental, and medicinal plants, and the seeds that our ancestors used during centuries.

Why are we called the Tamia Yura Etno-Agro-Ecological Center?

We use this name because we are conserving and recuperating our Kichwa ethnicity, maintaining our native agriculture and protecting and constructing our natural ecology by producing and reforesting Tamia Yura plants. This tree is sacred to our indigenous culture for its curative properties and even more because it provides water.

Founders of the Tamia Yura Center

PRESIDENTA 68-year-old from a Kichwa family, from a young age he loved working in the forest, taking advantage of the food and medicine that the forest blessed him with. At 24 years old he traveled to various places looking for work and ended up in the Galapagos. He also worked in a salt mine on the Ecuadorian coast. Back home he worked as a cattle rancher for a long time, and since then has dedicated his life to organic agriculture and the conservation of different native plants. He is a wise master of planting seasons and today is president of the Tamia Yura center.

Benjamín Mamallacta (iji) .-

Benjamin is a 35-year-old seed collector and tour guide. He has spent his life collecting seeds of different native plant species in his own territory where he was born in Archidona and the sacred mountain GALERAS URKU. He always walked with his father Don Casimiro Mamallacta (Cacique) collecting medicinal plants. He currently works to conserve the forest and participates in the organization SEED GUARDIANS. Iji works as a coordinator for the Tamia Yura center with the Kichwa family in Tena carrying out projects such as nurseries for native plants. He has also traveled to different parts of the Amazon to meet people from different cultures, such as the Haorani, Secorya, Shuar and Kichwa of Pastaza.

Ladi Tapuy.-

Ladi is a 22-year-old from a Kichwa family. In the course of her life she has dedicated herself to work together with her family carrying out different activities as a tour guide and dance instructor. She is an environmental activist for the conservation of native forest and collects the seeds of native plants in the Amazon and other regions of Ecuador (especially tropical regions). She lives with her family on the farm, and currently works as secretary of the Center.

Sonia Tapuy

A 33-year-old daughter of the family, in her work at the farm she teaches and elaborates different weavings and handicrafts in general: for the dance troupe, for sale at the local market, and for sale on the national and international level. Today she also works as the treasurer for the Tamia Yura Center.

 

Camilo Tapuy,

Camilo Tapuy,