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The Achuar are an indigenous culture that care for two millions acres of pristine rainforest in southern Ecuador. The Achuar are a dream culture. They wake up early each morning to tell their dreams to their community. The elders interpret the web of all their dreams t... More

The Achuar are an indigenous culture that care for two millions acres of pristine rainforest in southern Ecuador. The Achuar are a dream culture. They wake up early each morning to tell their dreams to their community. The elders interpret the web of all their dreams together, and based on that interpretation, they make important decisions about their daily life. After dream sharing, the elders tell myths to the children.

The original objective for the book was to support the passing of this myth from one generation to the next. As the project evolved, it was discovered that the book would also become an important teaching tool for Achuar kids to learn how to read and write in their own language, which would help perpetuate the use of their language. Currently, they are being taught in Spanish, only because their language has never been written down until now. The myth is written in Achuar, Spanish, and English. and will given to the Achuar in all 56 of their communities.

At the end of the book there is an illustrated section that portrays many aspects of the Achuar culture. Schools in the U.S. and other countries will be using this section, and the book as a whole, to teach kids about nature, the rainforest, the Achuar culture, and the importance of honesty and of sharing - that there is enough for everyone.

Alejandro Taish Mayaprua, an Achuar leader, wrote down his version of the myth in Achuar and Spanish. Achuar students, 10-20 years old, from a school in the rainforest created all of the illustrations in the book using, for the first time, modern world watercolor paints, pencils and pastels. The spirit of the kids, the rainforest, and the myth is captured in these magical illustrations. All of the proceeds from the book will go back into the Achuar communities in the form of educational workshops.