Language and Cultural Maintenance through the ‘Communication and Connectivity’ Program

By Amanda Appasamy, 2nd year MDP student

The Amazonian Indigenous Cofán of Zábalo, located in the province of Sucumbíos in Northeast Ecuador are proud of speaking and maintaining their language, A’ingae, from generation to generation. A’ingae is the main language of communication in the community. During my field placement with the Fundación de Sobrevivencía Cofán (FSC), I had the honour of visiting the primary school where grade one to six students are taught in A’ingae. However, education in Indigenous communities was taken over by the Ecuadorian government in the late 1970s and bilingual education was approved in 1980. 

Inside a Cofán classroom with teacher and pupils

Even though the educational system is not based on traditional Cofán instructions, books used in the school are written in A’ingae and teachings are immersed in the community context with Cofán themes and materials; whereby students learn about medicinal plants amongst others. The advantage of having a Cofán school in the community is that children do not have to travel long distances or reside away from their family and community in order to attend school. 

Nevertheless, as successful leaders, advocates, innovators and protectors of their traditional lands and territories, the Cofán recognize the importance of also educating their young people both in Spanish and English in order to create tri-cultural leaders who can speak and work for themselves and advocate for the protection of their land and territory at national and international levels instead of having the government or multi-national NGOs do it on their behalf. 

Cofán primary school book in A'ingae language

Hence, part of an Education Project initiated by the FSC has allowed some young Cofán to attend English-speaking and others, Spanish-speaking schools in the country’s capital permitting them to acquire diverse abilities and take over Cofán representation and leadership. However, the risks as viewed by some Cofán are sociocultural transformation; losing or abandoning Cofán customs. 

In order to counteract this cultural change, I worked with the FSC on a grant application for the implementation of a ‘Communication and Connectivity Program’ in Zábalo, where there are currently no basic communication systems. In other words, there is no land line, cell phone or internet connection.

An adequate communication system will therefore allow for diverse educational opportunities, on-line jobs, access to financial systems and most importantly, young students can continue their education from home. Additionally, young trained Cofán can work from home and do not have to migrate to other cities to seek employment. This will allow young people to maintain their culture and traditional lifestyle in their territories.

Items in the classroom: medicinal plants, seeds, leaves from forest plants