As part of its mission to protect the Amazon and defend the rights of indigenous peoples—of whom it is a steadfast ally—IRI-Colombia developed the booklet Caring for the Amazon Means Caring for Life. A guide for people of faith on the rights of indigenous peoples, whose goal is to amplify the voices of these communities and intertwine traditions of faith with their spirituality and ancient wisdom.
For faith to translate into genuine action, it must recognize and honor the self-governance and self-determination of indigenous peoples, who have been the ancestral guardians of the Amazon region. For this reason, this educational tool was created for religious leaders, churches, and ecclesiastical organizations, with the certainty that by studying and using it, they will find inspiration to make a renewed commitment to defending the Amazon and its indigenous peoples.
“This partnership, forged with indigenous and local communities, stands as a powerful testament to how interfaith solidarity can build bridges of trust and justice,” says Blanca Lucía Echeverry, director of IRI-Colombia.
Caring for the Amazon Means Caring for Life was written by sociologist David Flórez Valencia, a policy advisor for the Peru-Colombia program at Rainforest Foundation Norway, who has more than 15 years of experience supporting various processes within national and regional indigenous organizations. Additionally, the text was adapted for educational use by Nicna Camargo, a specialist in literary studies with a master’s degree in Therapeutic Pedagogy.
The document explores various aspects, ranging from the Amazon’s importance, its systems of governance—and how they are structured—and knowledge systems, to the principal rights of indigenous peoples, as well as the myths and prejudices surrounding this population. All of this is presented through a series of examples, case studies, and recommendations for pastoral actions that promote the protection of the Amazon and the defense of indigenous peoples’ rights.
