...PROJECTS

ALERT ... News Flash! The Proposed DAM in Peru would flood all the Ashaninka Communal Reserves.

Project Summary

The Asháninka Photography Project teaches the art of photography to the Asháninka, an indigenous people living in the rain forests of Peru.

NAROBE - The Asháninka Photography Project enables the Asháninka to use the camera as a tool — to allow them a means of expressing their identity, culture and vision from their viewpoint; to strengthen their voice; to expand their access to both give and receive information; to shape their communities; to preserve their cultural knowledge and to conserve their natural resources.

For many years, photography has been used successfully as a way for Indigenous and disenfranchised populations to tell their stories. This type of project allows people to document and discuss their lives, societies and culture as they see them , and acts as a vehicle for discussions about visual and cultural representation. The process of empowerment that develops from such projects also enables societies with little money, power, or status, to communicate their ideas and views to a larger audience.

We teach photography to the Ashaninka People to:

• Catalog and archive the Ashaninka environment to promote indigenous stewardship for active participation and decision making in the conservation of their lands.
• Document the Ashaninka culture and tradition.
• Develop the medium of photography as an educational and advocacy tool.
• Lend support to, and enhance projects already in progress in the Ashaninka communities.

Current Activities

18-month Project to Teach

• photography , scanning, printing, captioning, archiving, computer skills in Digital management, organization, layout and book final for 3 Ashaninka projects, selling stock, follow-up, exhibitions local, national, and international

Build a Media House

• (dry-box) in forest to store and work on materials for Ashaninka Photographers where they can organize meetings for everyone to further discuss media within their communities and invite other indigenous People to visit and share their knowledge

Prepare Ashaninka

• to takeover and teach project within their communities, set-up communication with Indigenous People's Media Organizations worldwide and Foundations assisting Indigenous People . Goals: lead to development and self-sustainibility of project.