Artisans
The artisans that design and create these products belong to various indigenous people groups within the Ecuadorian Amazon region. This ancestral knowledge of artisan work is passed down from generation to generation, and is an integral part of each of their unique cultures. Each group has their own language, history, and practices. Read on to learn more about the culture and way of life of each group represented by Tandana Collection.
Kichwa
The Kichwa (also spelled “Quichua,” pronounced “KEE-chwah”) people make up the most populous indigenous group in all of Ecuador. There are two distinct subgroups: one in the Andes mountain region and the other in the Amazon. The Amazon Kichwa are deeply connected to their natural environment. They rely on the many rivers in the region for sources of water, canoe transportation, fishing, and recreation. A vast knowledge of medicinal plants is passed down orally. A staple of their diet is yuca, a starchy root plant used to make a fermented drink that is served communally in a hollowed out gourd. Oral story telling, songs and dance, and of course their artisan work are important expressions of their culture. Some of their products you can find in our shop include textiles, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and the traditional ceramic bowls.
Waorani
The Waorani (also spelled “Huaorani,” pronounced “wow-RAH-nee”) indigenous group has a small population of only a few thousand, and live deep within the Ecuadorian Amazon. Historically they have intentionally been one of the most isolated groups and are very protective of their culture and way of life. The first contact with the tribe was by American missionaries in the 1950’s who landed in a small plane, and were speared to death. The traditional hunting weapon is the blowgun, using poisoned darts. Integral to their culture is the use of plants and trees for medicine, food, weapons, and home building. Their artisan work is representative of a deep cultural pride, and the products highlighted by Tandana Collection are their hand-woven baskets and bags.
Shuar
The Shuar (pronounced “shwar”) tribe is a large group of people living across a wide area of the Amazon. In the past they were primarily nomadic hunter-gatherers, but since the 1960’s have formed structured communities. Traditional music integrates singing, wood flutes, and drums. The diet consists primarily of yuca and plantains, with fish and wild game on the side. They were known for the unique practice of wearing the shrunken heads of defeated enemies, in order to control their spirits. Their mythology revolves around the animals of the rainforest with important characters including the jaguar and the snake. The Shuar products seen here are the large hand-woven baskets.
Cofán
The Cofán (pronounced “koh-FAHN”) people are a very small population living in the northern region of the Amazon. Their numbers were decimated by European contact and resulting diseases. Later oil extraction caused catastrophic damage to the natural resources of their land. Today they are working hard to restore the environment by bringing back native animals such as monkeys, tapirs, caimans, and pink dolphins. They also strive to maintain their culture and remain active in protecting their resources through legal action. The Cofán products available from our shop are the plant fiber bracelets.
