The Field School carries research on the Amazonian health, environment, education, arts and Quichua language in an attempt to improve the quality of life in Ecuadorian indigenous communities.
Health
Current health area projects include: improving communication between health practitioners and indigenous mothers in the area of children’s health; studying the dietary impact of nutrients and alcohol content of manioc chicha, a staple of Amazonian diet; and investigating ways to manage or lessen community stress resulting from high incidence of perceived “brujeria” or witchcraft. Health area faculty participating include ASU College of Nursing faculty Rojann Alpers, ( 2004- 2005) and Roxena Wotring, ( 2004- 2006), Medical Anthropologists Alexandra Brewis, ASU, (2006) and, Kathleen Dewalt, University of Pittsburgh (2005-2007), and David Kiefer, MD, Ph.D., Bastyr University.
Each year health area students and faculty carry out two public health education fairs in cooperation with the Ecuadorian government run subcentro de salud in Napo. The event includes a free clinic in which doctors and nurses work side by side with traditional indigenous healers. Each year the Field School also runs shorter seminars on disease and health in Amazonian culture which function as units for longer classes from other institutions doing study abroad in Ecuador.
BIBLIOGRAPHIES:
Bibliography of Ecuadorian Ethnobotany
Bibliography on Ecuadorian Indigenous Medicine
Bibliography of Indigenous Ecuadorian Oral Literature
Bibliography of Ecuadorian Quichua Grammar and Linguistics
QUICHUA ORAL LITERATURE:
Quichua Songs
“Matiri Man” Audio recording of an Amazonian Quichua ritual song to a plant person. (Clavija Sp. Theophrastaceae). Quichua transcription with English translation and analysis.
“Huanduj Flower Woman.” Recording of an Amazonian Quichua ritual song to a plant person (Brugmansia Sp.) Quichua transcription of the song with Spanish translation.
“Wayusa Man.” Recording of an Amazonian Quichua ritual song to a plant person (Ilex guayusa) sung by Clara Santi. Quichua transcription of the song with Spanish translation.
“Pasu Flower Man.” Recording of an Amazonian Quichua ritual song to a plant person (Eschweileria Sp.) Quichua transcription of the song with Spanish Translation.
“Chuku Flower Woman.” Recording of an Amazonian Quichua ritual song to a plant person (Erethryna poppoegiana). Quichua transcription of the song with Spanish Translation.
"Urku Chiri Wayusa." Audio recording of an Amazonian Quichua ritual song to a plant person. (Clavija Sp.)
“Lumu Sisa Warmi.” Recording of an Amazonian Quichua manioc (Manihot esculenta) gardening song. Quichua transcription of the song with English translation.
“Waranga Flower Woman.” Recording of an Amazonian Quichua ritual song to a plant person (Parkia Sp. Fabaceae) sung by Clara Santi. Quichua transcription of the song with Spanish translation.
Songs to Animal Species
“Black Anaconda Man.” Recording of an Amazonian Quichua ritual song to a snake person. Quichua transcription of the song with Spanish translation.
“Ucumbi Snake Man.” Recording of an Amazonian Quichua ritual song to a snake person. Quichua transcription of the song with Spanish translation.
“Gao Tucan Woman.” Recording of an Amazonian Quichua ritual song to a bird person. Quichua transcription of the song with Spanish translation.
“Paspanzhu Bird Song.” Recording of an Amazonian Quichua ritual song to a bird person. Quichua transcription of the song with Spanish translation.
Songs to Rivers
“Puyo River Headwaters Song.” Recording of an Amazonian Quichua ritual song to a river. Quichua transcription of the song with Spanish translation.
Quichua Origin Stories
"The Poor Alcalde Sponsors the Corpus Fiesta”
Salasaca Quichua origin story narrated by Rosa Masaquiza
Translation and analysis by Tod Swanson
with the assistance of Alissa Johnson
Eric Meringer, Jonathan Confer.
animal catalog
QUICHUA VISUAL ARTS
The Amazonian Quichua ceramic tradition is among the most beautiful in the Americas (along with the Shipibo pottery of the Peruvian Amazon and Pueblo pottery of New Mexico, and others). Each year the field school invites some of the best know Quichua artists to hold a one week ceramic workshop. Field School participants can learn to make traditional ceramic bowls called mucaguas. In the process they study the religious and cultural context of the ceramic tradition. They also study natural dies and glazes and learn the meaning of many symbols used in Amazonian ceramic. In accordance with tradition, each student paints their mucaguas with traditional patterns using a brush made of their own hair.
In recent decades cheaper and more durable containers of plastic or aluminum have replaced traditional ceramics for every day use. As a result most girls and young women in the Napo region are no longer skilled in the ceramic tradition. The ceramic workshop provides an opportunity for local Quichua girls to learn the tradition by working along side Field School Students.
Research Themes
