| Total population | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32,555[1] | ||||||
| Regions with significant populations | ||||||
|
||||||
| Languages | ||||||
The Awá (or Kwaiker) are an ancient indigenous people that inhabit the regions of northern Ecuador (provinces of Carchi and Sucumbios) and southern Colombia (particularly the departments of Nariño y Putumayo). Their entire population is around 32,555 members.[1] They speak a language called Awapit.
Contents |
The Awa Reserve was established in northwestern Ecuador in 1987. The reserve combines indigenous and forestry legislature, so that the Awa people could manage the forest and their own lands.[2] This reserve is in the Chocoanos Forest within the Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena region, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. Unfortuately logging and mining interests are illegally active in the reserve.[1]
The Awa traditionally hunt, gather, fish, and cultivate plants. Today, they also farm livestock, such as chickens, ducks, guinea pigs, and pigs.[3]
They practice a form of agriculture called "slash and mulch," which involves clearing small parcels of land (about 1.25 to 5 acres) and leaving the fallen plants and trees to decay. Within days the vegetation turns to a layer of humus, favorable for planting. These parcels are cultivated for two or three seasons, then left fallow for periods of over seven years. They practice intercropping and grow many different varieties of manioc and plantains.[4] They also grow maize, Colocasia, Xanthosoma, beans, sugarcane, hot peppers, chirimoya, tomato, tamarind, mango, achiote, borojo, naranjilla, papaya, inga, avocado, peach palm, and other useful plants.[5] The trees outlive the annual plants and foster regrowth while the plots are left fallow.[6]
Awa hunt games such as the Central American Agouti, paca, collared peccary, brocket deer, iguana, and several birds. Hunting is regulated on Awa land.[3]
Their main organization is called UNIPA, which stands for Unity of Indigenous People Awa. Another internal organization is CAMAWARI. Their main leaders are called Governors. Awa actively participate in local politics since 1993 when they elected the first mayor of in the municipality of Ricaurte (Juan Legarda) and several municipal counsellors. Since that year Awa people has continued to play an important role in the politics of the department of Nariño.
There have been several mass murders of Awá in 2009 by FARC rebels and by Colombian army.[7]
In 11 February 2009, 10 Awa members were killed by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas, who accused them of working as informers for the Colombian army.[8]. In 4 February 17 Awá were killed, reportedly by the FARC. In August 2009, twelve Awá of the same family were killed in Indigenous reservation of Gran Rosario, reportedly by the Colombian Army.[7]