Quito, November 3 (teleSUR-RHC)-- A delegation from the Ecuadorean government made an historic visit to the Cuchaena territory, a Shuar indigenous community in the Amazon, to conduct a face-to-face meeting to further dialogue between the government and indigenous tribes. The government delegation, led by Rosa Mireya Cardenas, met with Rafael Washita, president of Shuar Nation of Ecuador, along with community members. The government of Rafael Correa has made a deliberate effort to improve communications between his administration and indigenous communities in order to better determine the needs of the community and respond as necessary. According to Washita, the Shuar people have come to be seen as antagonistic due to their use of direct action tactics to grab the attention of authorities, something the president of Shuar Nation now wants to see changed. "We cannot continue thinking that with stoppages (and) strikes we are going to change, going to improve; the only way to achieve the development of our people is through dialogue," Washita told El Telegrafo. As part of their meeting, the community presented a list of needs, including the construction of a health center, improved road access, and a new school that will provide bilingual education to help preserve the Shuar language. Walter Uyungara, a member of the Shuar nation and general coordinator of the council for citizens participation for Indigenous peoples and nationalities, Afro-descendants and Montubios, said a delegation would return to the community at least twice in the coming months to continue with the dialogue.
