Amazon coop
| country: | Brazil |
| location: | Para - the Brazilian Amazon |
| price: | This lodge is no longer open |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
introduction to Amazon coop
Tataquara lodge is owned by a co-operative of Indian tribes called the Amazonco-op, which wascreated in 1998. The Tataquara lodge was built using funds donated in 1999 by The Body ShopFoundation, a private British charity. The co-op's goal is to make all the member tribes self sufficient.
Until the creation of Amazoncoop, the Indians only income source was the sale of Brazil nuts.The idea of the Amazoncoop originated from the need to find funding to continue medical assistancefor the member tribes - Arara, Arawete, Assurini, Kayapo, Parakanã and Xicrin. Until recently, alarge part of the tribes' medical care budget came from The Body Shop Foundation which hasworked, together with the Altamira Indian Agency (FUNAI ADR Altamira) since 1992, to put in placethe infrastructure and training needed to provide quality health care.
However, the Indians cannotrisk losing this quality health care by relying solely on charity or on the irregular and constantlydecreasing funding of the Brazilian government - they must strive for self-sufficiency.In creating the co-op, the Indians have gained an independent legal body to represent their interests.The co-op's mission is to establish an income generating business model that does not have anegative impact on Indian culture or tribal life.
Until the creation of Amazoncoop, the Indians only income source was the sale of Brazil nuts.The idea of the Amazoncoop originated from the need to find funding to continue medical assistancefor the member tribes - Arara, Arawete, Assurini, Kayapo, Parakanã and Xicrin. Until recently, alarge part of the tribes' medical care budget came from The Body Shop Foundation which hasworked, together with the Altamira Indian Agency (FUNAI ADR Altamira) since 1992, to put in placethe infrastructure and training needed to provide quality health care.
However, the Indians cannotrisk losing this quality health care by relying solely on charity or on the irregular and constantlydecreasing funding of the Brazilian government - they must strive for self-sufficiency.In creating the co-op, the Indians have gained an independent legal body to represent their interests.The co-op's mission is to establish an income generating business model that does not have anegative impact on Indian culture or tribal life.
The lodge is operated as an extremely low environmental impact facility.
It uses alternative energy sources. The facilities present a combination of comfort and beauty.
The activities include forest trekking, nature walks, animal watching, fishing Peacock bass and
other exotic fishes, canoeing and swimming.
Indians from nearby villages visit the lodge to meet guests and trade their crafts.
All the tours are guided by English speaking Indian guides.
Read a brief history of the Tribes of the Amazoncoop (more)how this holiday makes a difference
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Welcome to this unknown side of the jungle, and to this chapter of rarely told Brazilian history. Thetribes that have survived have been extremely brave in facing the challenge of being forced almostovernight into a 21stcentury they could never have imagined. Your visit can help them preserve theirforests and culture and will provide funds to invest in education for the next generation - the bestdefence in securing their future.The Amazoncoop is a non-profit organization set up in 1998 to raise donations and develop sustainable economic business to benefit its member tribes and make them self-sufficient in the long-term.
Health Care Assistance: Funds to pay for Indian Health care have been subjected to political use. Many Indians died last year from an outbreak of chickenpox..The Indian Agency - FUNAI in Altamira and the Amazoncoop have been fighting to ensure FUNAI regains control of the health assistance and budget for the tribes. Education: Sixty percent of the population is under the age of fifteen. The encroachment of non-Indian settlements surrounding the reserves demands an educated population which can learn to take informed decisions about it´s future survival. The village schools lack the basic fascilitiesto do this.The Amazoncoop is seeking to raise funds to invest in education. Patrolling of the Indian reserves: The Indian reserves of the Amazonco-op tribes are one of the last pockets of pristine rainforest in Eastern Amazon. Illegal loggers, miners and squatters frequently invade the borders of the reserves. The tribes get no support from the Brazilian government to defend their land. Unless patrolling is put in place, the plundering of Indian wealth will continue. |
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