IKIAM

1 x 45 minute Documentary

Year of production: 2009

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Synopsis

A peoples struggle against constant exploitation, throughout one of the richest and most complex communities of plant and animal life in the world.

Oil companies have been exploiting the natural resources and the people of Ecuador for decades. Because the country’s economy depends heavily on crude oil, large petroleum corporations continue to enter the Amazon region to drill in untapped areas, forcing local communities to fight back. Ikiam examines the effects of oil damage (and its possible preventions) upon environments, health, economy, and rapidly changing cultures, and also uncovers dark hidden truths about the dangers of taking a stance against such a frighteningly dominant power.

We are taken on a journey through catastrophic environmental conditions, where oil companies are heavily exploiting thousands of people and their lands. Indigenous communities from various regions of Ecuador including those within indigenous territories including the Shiwiar’s and Waorani’s, share with us both the severe injustices that have occurred and what challenges they face in preventing oil companies from entering their homes.

On the brink of economic civilization, the Juyuintsa tribal people of the Ecuadorian Amazon, have found an escape route from oil exploitation… ecotourism. But with limited medicine, education, and medical emergencies a common occurrence, will they be able to sustain their new undertaking? Pascual Kunchicuy, a man who was born in the Juyuintsa village and now lives in the nearby town of Puyo, leads us into the jungle to find out the answer to this question. He initiated the ecotourism project, which is called the Ikiam Expedition, to help defend the Shiwiar territory from oil exploitation. Pascual explains in a series of interviews how they also want for their people to have access to education and health care, whilst preserving their Shiwiar culture.

Click here to view photos from some of the regions filmed

Half of any proceeds raised through the documentary’s distribution and associated fundraising events go directly into the filmed organizations that are trying to preserve the Amazon, and the other half goes into the Nomadic Hands project (www.nomadichands.com) in order to continue creating further documentaries about social and environmental issues.