professional bio
Manari Ushigua is a traditional healer and leader of the Sapara Nation in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The Sápara Nation is recognized by UNESCO as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.” Manari has been a key figure in the indigenous movement of Ecuador as the Vice President of CONAIE (The National Indigenous Organization of Ecuador) from 2013-2016, and as the President of the Sapara Indigenous Federation from 1999 to 2012. Manari has participated in international events, like COP21 UN Climate Summit and the UN Universal Periodic Review of human rights, raising awareness about the threat to his homeland. As a defender of indigenous rights, he has managed to conserve more than 276,000 hectares of primary forest threatened by extractive industries. Manari is the co-founder of the Naku Center, creating a new economic model in the Amazon that is based around cultural and forest preservation.
Carrying on His Father’s Legacy
In Manari’s territory, his father was in charge of leading the protection of the forest and guiding the life of Sápara families inside the territory. After he passed away in 1999, Manari was designated as his successor to lead the territorial defense and was given the responsibility of taking his role as a healer and leader of the Sápara Nationality.
Manari made the decision to connect the Sápara in the rainforest with the outside world, and by doing so, they accomplished important achievements. The Sápara have been recognized by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon (CONFENIAE), and received recognition from UNESCO.
The responsibility that Manari’s father left him is what motivates him everyday to keep working in the territorial defense and as a spiritual leader.
Preserving Culture in a Changing Landscape
Manari has seen many changes for the Sápara Nation since he has been leading his people. In the past, the Sápara communities were nomads and travelled all over the territory, but now they have settled, creating homes and schools.
The Sápara have worked to ensure that their children and youth can study modern science together with traditional ancestral knowledge. They have created the Sápara Intercultural Bilingual Directorate to train Sápara people to become professionals - as teachers, to work in public administration and local development, and as Sápara linguists.
The communities in the jungle can no longer live outside the money system and there is increasing pressure to move to the cities and adapt to modern life. Manari co-founded the Naku Healing Center with Belen Paez in order to create work opportunities that not only provide a living for those in the communities, but also supports the protection of ancestral knowledge.
Protecting the Rainforest
In 2013, Ecuador commissioned two rainforest blocks to oil companies for future development—blocks that make up the homeland of the Sápara people—without their permission. With the leadership of Manari and other Sápara leaders, they have successfully held off the exploitation of oil from the territory. The struggle of extractive industries, such as petroleum and balsa wood continues today.
Manari has been able to participate in international events—like the COP21 UN Climate Summit and the UN Universal Periodic Review of human rights—raising awareness about the threat to his homeland. He has also met with decision-makers from all over the world.
To the Sápara, it is our responsibility as human beings to care for all life and protect all beings, visible and invisible, in the forest. They do not see items in the forest as resources, rather spirits that have life and contribute to the overall balance of the planet.
Manari’s Work In The World
The Sapara Nation is in danger of extinction, fighting to protect their territory for not only their children but for all of us and future generations to come. With Manari’s leadership, the Sapara Nation made a decision to open their door and hearts to share this wisdom with friends from the outside world. They know that even if their people disappear, the wisdom passed down from the elders for millennia will continue living.
Manari is passionate about sharing his ancestral wisdom and supporting people to remember and understand their dreams and reconnect with the spirit world.