2017

Knitting for Conservation: Awakkuna about star

Ecuador

Awakkuna is an innovative approach to working with indigenous communities to protect biodiversity. Taking into consideration the difficulties of opening dialogue and cooperation with indigenous communities, knitting creates a safe space for intercultural dialogue and cooperation between indigenous communities and other groups.

About The Project

Awakkuna is an innovative approach to working with indigenous communities to protect biodiversity. Taking into consideration the difficulties of opening dialogue and cooperation with indigenous communities, knitting creates a safe space for intercultural dialogue and cooperation between indigenous communities and other groups. Ancestral and scientific knowledge are brought together as equals.

Knitting groups are created within the Kichwa indigenous communities, to produce scientifically accurate and culturally important Amazon animals as toys. In this way, cultural and scientific knowledge of the Kichwa is shared, to create an understanding of indigenous communities and their natural environment.

Knitting as an approach to dialogue is easy to implement and can be adapted to any context. The Awakkuna project uses knitting not only as an approach to protect the rainforest’s biodiversity but also to create the space for intercultural dialogue, cooperation and an exchange of knowledge.

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