They are also known as "colorados" because of their custom
of painting their hair and body with red achiote. The Colorados
gave the name to the main city located in the region where they live,
Santo Domingo de los Colorados. This group conserves their traditions
although they were displaced by colonists after the road was constructed
from the Mountains to the Coast through their territory.
The Awa
The Awa community live in the north of Ecuador and south of Colombia,
in Ecuador they live in the provinces of Carchi, Imbabura and Esmeraldas.
There are approximately 1,600 Awas and are a group that live constantly
threatened by the colonists and lumber companies that covet their
forests. They live in the forests to the north and west of the country
and combine hunting with blowguns and raising animals like chickens
and pigs for their survival.
The Chachi
There are around 4,700 individuals belonging to this group. They mostly
live in the province of Esmeraldas. Their language is Chapíalachi
that they use to communicate amongst themselves. This community, in
spite of conserving their ancient forms of survival, has had to provide
their knowledge of the tropical wet forest for the exploitation of
wood. The handicrafts and musical instruments that they make has given
them a new way to progress in the modern market economy.
The Eperas
A community similar to the Chachis, their neighbors. They are differentiated
by the language because they don't speak the language of the Chachis.
The Eperas live in the province of Esmeraldas and are characterized
by being skilled artisans and fishermen.
