2607 Hon. Frank R. Wolf Hon. Carolyn B. Maloney
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February 12, 1999 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 2607 ECUADOR TRIP REPORT talking with them about their concerns for the be self-sufficient on their own terms and with future. their own resources. HON. FRANK R. WOLF Generally, we observed their way of life, Transportation is another significant factor OF VIRGINIA their culture and their interactions with each as relates to commerce and healthcare. Al- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES other and learned what it is like to live on a though rivers abound in the rainforest, in this day to day basis in the rain forest. A group of Friday, February 12, 1999 area their serpentine characteristic prohibits high school students from Wheaton Academy, speed in travel. We traveled 40 minutes by Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I want to share a private school in the Chicago suburbs, were dugout canoe and ended up 100 yards from with my colleagues a report on my recent trip there at the same time. where we began. The rule of thumb is ‘‘one to Ecuador. I traveled to that South American The challenges facing the Huaorani are not minute in the air is two hours on a jungle country January 9–15. I spent two days in the on the same order as other groups which I trail.’’ Therefore, an attempt is being made to rain forest, one day traveling in country, and have visited and for which I have expressed procure an accommodation in the regulations two days in Quito, the capital. With the spread great concern previously. However, they are to allow for a plane in the tribe and a ‘‘des- of populations and industry into the Amazon faced with learning to live interactively with hi- ignated pilot.’’ Basin, tribal groups are having to come to tech civilization in the coming years, and When we returned to Quito, we were able to grips with the realities of 21st century life and learning to do so while maintaining their own spend time with our ambassador, Leslie Alex- I was asked to visit in order to better under- identity. Historically, they have been a highly ander, and his colleague, Peter Harding. We stand those challenges. egalitarian group, without much vertical social discussed the nature of our visit and other top- The world was stunned 43 years ago, in order. That has been moderated some in the ics of mutual concern and interest. The fol- January of 1956, when the speared bodies of last 40 years to include community elders, lowing day we visited the persons responsible five young men, Jim Elliot, Pete Fleming, Ed who help guide life in the tribe. They have for the Office of Indigenous Affairs and articu- McCully, Nate Saint and Roger Youderian, also become somewhat less nomadic in re- lated why we had come to Ecuador and what were discovered in the Curaray River of south- cent years. we had seen. They were grateful for the inter- eastern Ecuador. These were evangelical mis- Government requirements for personal reg- est and assured us that they would marshal sionaries from three different missions, who, in istration, voting at designated venues which whatever resources at their disposal to ad- their attempt to make meaningful contact with may be several days away by jungle trail, and dress the issues raised. the Auca tribe, had been murdered. Aucas other things necessary to interact with the na- (the Spanish word for ‘‘savage’’) had a long tional culture are matters which are currently We then had the opportunity for a good dis- history of killing outsiders, friendly or not. In under discussion with the Ministry of Govern- cussion with the president of Ecuador, Jamil their desire to make contact, these young ment in Quito, and more specifically the Office Mahuad, joined by Ambassador Alexander. men—from age 28 to 32—had known the risk. for Indigenous Affairs. As hunter-gatherers in Not only were we able to discuss the situation The response to their deaths was broad and the rain forest, the national language, use of of the Huaorani, we were also able to invite immediate, as other young men and women money, and means of transportation all critical the president to the National Prayer Breakfast, followed in their steps, led by a wife and a sis- to engagement with the outside world are for- which he subsequently attended on February ter of two of the men who had died. As a re- eign to the Huaorani and all need to be ad- 4. sult of the continued contacts, most of the trib- dressed. Additionally, the request for a radio In the words of Steve Saint, what the al members stopped their killing within two frequency from the government by which to Huaorani need are the following: years of that incident, and for the most part communicate and educate within the tribal re- 1. The right to vote and establish their citi- they have lived peacefully since. gion was in process. zenship within their own territory, which would A few months ago, however, the son of one Steve Saint’s approach has been to under- include a place to register their birth, marriage of the original five men, Steve Saint, contacted stand that the people in this region will con- and death, and to acquire the ‘‘cedulas’’ (iden- my office regarding some of his humanitarian tinue to interact more and more with interests tity cards) that are required of all citizens. concerns for the people in this tribe, now outside their local environment. The question 2. The right to develop their own means of called in their native language, the Huaorani. is not ‘‘When will this process happen?, but disseminating information throughout their own As a result, I journeyed with a friend to the Ec- ‘‘with whom and can they survive it as a tribal territory, in their own language, without meet- uadorian rain forest and also Quito, the cap- group?’’ The people feel that they need to ing stringent communication requirements that ital, between Saturday, January 9, and Friday, learn to be both independent and inter- were established for densely populated terri- January 15, for the purpose of meeting the dependent within the national culture, avoiding tories. They need favorable concession in the people, becoming acquainted with the region, the pitfalls of becoming welfare recipients. To acquisition or radio frequencies. and assessing whether I could be of any as- assist then in that journey, he has invited Although much of my interest has focused sistance by understanding the particulars of groups—such as the Wheaton Academy stu- over the years on the violation of human rights their situation. dents—to visit for a few days in the rain forest around the world, it was encouraging to see a The challenges of tribal life in the Amazon at a neutral site constructed like a village, not situation in which thoughtful assistance in a Basin, particularly with the inroads of industry, an actual settlement. In that manner, the visi- timely way could nurture self-determination are not small and have been well documented tors can interact with the Huaorani without in- and the democratic process. I am grateful for by sociologists, anthropologists, and others. terrupting village life. Each person pays a fee the efforts of our Foreign Service Corps in Ec- This huge area of rain forest, which is home and the profits are put into an account in the uador for their skill and dedication in the public to as few as 175,000 people in various tribal nearest large town in the names of the village sector, as well as the work of private U.S. citi- groups scattered throughout it, has received elders. In that way, the Indians are creating a zens in the humanitarian arena, which en- much attention from the scientific, industrial productive economy which they can control. hances the lives of peoples in both countries. and religious communities. Additionally, health-care skills are being Upon arrival at Quito airport Saturday practiced to improve their health without hav- f evening, we were met by Peter Harding, polit- ing to journey outside their territory. A simple, ical officer at our embassy, and Alicia Duran- but ingenious, form of dentistry is in place so PERSONAL EXPLANATION Ballen, daughter of a former president of Ec- that they can fill teeth, again without jour- uador. She acted as host and interpreter for neying long distances. Although sickness does us while we were in Quito. We left the next not seem to be prevalent, except diseases HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY morning early by private plane for that might be ‘‘brought’’ from the outside, the OF NEW YORK Nemompade, a very small village in the Ama- Huaorani do have significant problems with IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES zon Basin, 150 miles southeast of Quito, a few decaying teeth. Much of this malady, appar- Friday, February 12, 1999 miles from the site on the Curaray where the ently, stems from their eating staple—manioc young men had been killed. We were met roots. Manioc is a starch that converts to Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, there by Steve Saint and spent the next two sugar readily, hence, tooth problems abound. during rollcall vote No. 17 (H.R. 350), I was days and nights with the Huaorani learning I use this illustration only to highlight the fact unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I how they lived, being shown their ways, and that every effort is being made to help them would have voted ‘‘nay.’’ VerDate Aug 04 2004 13:15 Sep 27, 2004 Jkt 069102 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR99\E12FE9.000 E12FE9 2608 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS February 12, 1999 PERSONAL EXPLANATION continue.