EARTH’s Water Solutions Program seeks to provide clean water to communities who have been directly impacted by the long-term effects of colonialism and industrialization through state-of-the-art water technologies, water catchment systems and responsibly dug wells, and we seek to educate communities about sustainable practices such as water-filtrations, sustainable practices and soil-water retention.
“My name is Tuwe, I am from the Huni Kui people of the Amazon rainforest. I live in the Kaxinawá Indigenous Land of the Humaitá River, in the village São Vicente, which is closest to the city of Tarauacá, in the state of Acre, Brazil.
I am the son of a traditional leader, who was the first person that began the struggle for the demarcation of our land and the securing of our rights. He began to work with a plan for us to organize. I am continuing the work that he started.
I am President of the Association of the Indigenous Peoples of the Humaita River- ASPIRH, a filmmaker, and an indigenous agroforestry agent, working in the territorial and environmental management of our land and its surroundings. This involves various actions: surveillance, inspection, implementation of agroforestry systems, as well as the control of waste, management of natural resources, such as straw for covering houses, raising of native bees, repopulation of turtles, etc.
Some people say wealth is to have a lot of money but for us, indigenous peoples that live in the forest, this is not so. Wealth is to have an abundance of fish, game, a healthy forest, our medicines, and a life of quality in the forest. All this guarantees the future of the new generations, because it is not worth it for us to think just about the present, we have to think as well for the future of our children.”
Due to dozens of years of illegal logging practices in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil (on the border of Peru), the Huni Kuin people’s main water supply; the Humaitá River, has been contaminated. After long-term fundraising efforts involving money stolen from the tribe, careful planning and a treacherous and complicated day-long boat trip to these incredibly remote villages with all necessary supplies, one well was finally dug for the tribespeople, only for them to discover that water was also contaminated.
Before we met Tuwe, the Huni Kuin people were drinking and bathing in water that was not sanitary, and people were getting sick. Tuwe’s own father, having spent a lifetime in the river water like most tribespeople, fell sick with cancer and passed away, leaving Tuwe to lead the people and find solutions. Tuwe asked us to share our access and resources with his tribe, as they share the wisdom of the rainforest with us.
Tuwe asked us to supply the tribe with filtration systems (as an urgent solution) and three wells for their people and surrounding villages. E.A.R.T.H. supplied his tribe with water filtration systems and three three wells, and now their community is no longer hauling and drinking water from a muddy water hole. This has been a lofty undertaking, requiring large sums of money and a great deal of dedication by our program directors, donors and volunteers. We are currently fundraising to help more surrounding tribes gain access to clean water, as there are still villages in the area in need of clean water. We need your help to continue this mission.
All donations go directly to supplying the Huni Kuin people with access to clean water as quickly as possible.
