THE AMAZONIAN SOCIAL
RELATION TO NATURE  

An Open Access Environmental Humanities Digital  Project

INTRODUCTION

This project presents the Amazonian relation to nature by linking short videos of testimonies, stories, and songs to the names of the plant and animal species that are the subjects of the narratives.  The species and videos are also linked to the various stages of the human lifecycle through which they are experienced.   

 Furthermore, they are linked to the sensory mode through which the species is perceived or engaged in the video: sound (language, singing), sight (gesture, the visual arts), smell, o taste.  Our approach is to interview knowledgeable individuals in the forest setting where their memories are activated by the plants and animals they see. 

The videos presented here are edited down from these longer interviews to exemplify key aspects of Kichwa thinking about nature or particular species.  Although the subtitles are set to English they can be changed to Spanish or Kichwa by clicking the settings icon. Much of our recent work focuses on how the Kichwa language serves as a vehicle through which the relation to nature is shaped and expressed. 

All Videos
Fiorella Vera-Adrianzen explains why you should learn an indigenous language
04:26

Fiorella Vera-Adrianzen explains why you should learn an indigenous language

Fiorella Vera-Adrianzen is an Iyarina alumna and PhD student in the University of New Mexico, specializing in Comparative Politics and International Relations. In this interview she explains the profound impact that learning an indigenous language has had in her life and career. You can learn more about Fiorella at: https://laii.unm.edu/news/2017/11/laii-phd-fellow-fiorella-vera-adrianzen.html
Lauren Dodaro explains why you should learn an indigenous language
04:04

Lauren Dodaro explains why you should learn an indigenous language

Lauren Dodaro is an Iyarina alumna and a PhD candidate in Tulane University's Anthropology program where she is studying Environmental Anthropology. In this interview she explains the profound impact that learning an indigenous language has had in her life and career
Lauren Dodaro explains why you should learn an indigenous language
04:04

Lauren Dodaro explains why you should learn an indigenous language

Lauren Dodaro is an Iyarina alumna and a PhD candidate in Tulane University's Anthropology program where she is studying Environmental Anthropology. In this interview she explains the profound impact that learning an indigenous language has had in her life and career
Travis and John explain why you should learn an indigenous language
05:59

Travis and John explain why you should learn an indigenous language

John White and Travis Fink are Iyarina alumni and PhD candidates in Tulane University's Anthropology program. In this interview they explain the profound impact that learning an indigenous language has had in their lives and careers
To give birth like a shirkillu tree
00:38

To give birth like a shirkillu tree

Clip11 1
03:41

Clip11 1

Eulodia Dagua, "A Ceramic Representation of the Kuaentza River."
01:54

Eulodia Dagua, "A Ceramic Representation of the Kuaentza River."

Eulodia Dagua "A man's peccary body"
04:43

Eulodia Dagua "A man's peccary body"

Belgica Dagua, On the joy of childhood in the forest
03:31

Belgica Dagua, On the joy of childhood in the forest