View from Kushillu Urku. Kushillu is the name of the howler monkey. Urku means mountain in Kichwa. In Sarayaku, mountains are inhabited by seen and unseen beings.
Kids play ‘pulling forces’ at the main plaza, Puma, the place of common encounters in Sarayaku, during the preparations for the Pachamama festivities; the flag on the top is the wipala, which symbolises the union of indigenous nations across the Andes.
First day of the Pachamama celebration: students of the Sarayaku local school perform with drums during the graduation ceremony.
Skin painting with wituk, the deep purple juice of the Genipa americana fruit, which is commonly used as tattoo ink.
Tinajas and mukawas on the shores of the Bobonaza river awaiting the return of hunters. Mukawa is an earthenware vessel, woven by women’s hands into a bowl-like form. It is used for drinking aswa — the yuca fermented drink of Sarayaku.
Ashanga in process. The hands of Santiago weave the threads of the tiamshi liana up and down and across to shape a basket for carrying yuca.
