about us
History
Amupakin home for life is an space funded thanks to the dream and impetus of María Antonia Shiguango, who guided by her parents teachings, had the force to claim the ancestral indigenous knowledge and create a space for the kichwa midwifes to spread their wisdom at the same time they got a proper salary. Her fight started 30 years ago recruiting and training midwives and healers to get fundings to build our ancestral hospital.
In 1998 the association becamea asociaciónlegitimate and started to preserve and consolidate the ancestral knowledge in health and culture; improve the health coverage for both children and mothers in the local population and develop health services according to the natural medicine point of view.
It is only when we share our gifts that our ancestors’ wisdom survives and along with it the deep respect for our mother nature. We believe that Kichwa knowledge has an extreme value that deserves to be rescued as a way to reach the Sumak Kawsay(wellness and balance between a human being and their environment).
Ancestral medicine
Our history has been raised on the fight for the recognition of a real intercultural care in the Napo region. We are convinced that by opening our minds to different ways of understanding healthcare, our men and women will be more conscious and self-sufficient.
According to Kichwa ancestral medicine, being in touch with nature while working in the chakra (the land which represents the main source of nutrition and medicine for Kichwa families) will give you the power to heal. This knowledge can only be understood from a spiritual mood and through the gifts pajuswe inherit from our ancestors.
LOS ELEMENTOS DE LA SANACIÓN
PAJUS
Los dones para curar. Poderes transmitidos de generación en generación que han madurado con los años y con dietas. Sin ellos no hay curación.
AMUS
Los dueños de las plantas. Cada una tiene un espíritu que la protege y al cual hay que pedir permiso para sanar.
DIETAS
Al pasar por una sanación, debes comprometerte a cumplir con las indicaciones. Las achimamas darán una dieta de comida o de acciones que se deberá cumplir.
prendas
El intercambio o pago por la salud. Ya sea en productos o en dinero, entregar algo a cambio de la sanación es indispensable o el mal atacará a la curandera.
Las mamas parteras
I started to assist births at the age of 20. I was born in Archidona. When I was a kid my mum used to be a midwife but she didn’t allow me to be with her because I was very young. A few years later I moved to Awayacu with María Antonia Shiguango (the founder of Amupakin) from whom I learned many things in nearly 6 months. The gifts I have got have been inherited from my grandmothers. They both repositioned babies who were in breech presentation. They believed in my power as a midwife and they faithfully transferred me their gifts. Once you are gifted you must be patient and be on a strict diet before you can start to heal. This process may take at least one year. I always trust the plants I use, because it is them who have the power to heal. That is why I’ve been able to heal gallstones, kidney stones, gastritis, cancer, anemia, epilepsy.
I was born in Puerto Napo. Since I was a kid I was curious about healings and midwifery, but my grandma, who was a midwife, didn’t allow me to be with her so I used to hide myself and watch her. One day she told me that if I felt curious, it was because I was meant to learn and she started to teach me. When I grew up, I discovered there was a community of midwives and I decided to join them. That’s how I started to work in Amupakin. I was anxious to learn and I paid attention very carefully to everything the mamas showed me. I also took a nursing training since I wanted to be ready in case there was any emergency. However, all the techniques I use are based on traditional medicine. For example, I use the touch to control temperature. My hands are my main tool.
I started to learn about midwifery with my aunt and grandma when I was 8. My dad and my grandad were also shamans. As a child, I was always running around them trying to learn, but they didn’t allow me to. One day they changed their mind and began to teach me. First of all, I had to take a drink to throw away every negative aspect inside me so I could start learning. I remember feeling very sick and vomiting. Since that moment, my learning path began. I really enjoy my work in Amupakin so when there are no patients I feel discouraged. I wish this situation could change and people would appreciate our knowledge and culture.
My mum was the person who came up with this project to assist vertical births. She always took me with her so I could translate from Kichwa to Spanish. During the 90’s I used to go with her to raise fundings for our project. At the beginning, I didn’t like to be a midwife, I just wanted to help my mum. But one day I had to assist my sister’s birth and that was when I started to enjoy it. During the last years I have witnessed obstetric violence in hospitals and a lot of discrimination againts indigenous mums. Since I was little, I have always fought against injustice so even though I had other jobs I always came back to help in Amupakin. In 2006 I was selected as a secretary and in 2010 I officially started to represent the association. Our progress has been slow but steady. Sadly, many midwives have left because we don’t have any economical support. However, we still have the dream to provide ancestral care to the communities in our region.
I was born far away from here, in the mountains. When I was one month old I was brought to Archidona to receive my baptism. My grandma taught me how to heal when I was a kid. When someone sick visited her, she showed me the plants I should use. I was given paju the day a sick lady came to my grandma. That was the day my grandma transferred me her gifts. When I was 20 I traveled to Coca where I lived for 7 years. There I met a yachak (spiritual guide) from whom I learned more about healings. First of all, you must look at the illness to know which plants you must use. We use different medicines for each illness. As I was a healer, many people suffering different illnesses came to visit me from various regions. I have been part of Amupakin since the very beginning. It was Mama Antonia herself who recruited me and together we looked for more women like us to preserve our wisdom.
I was born in the community of Peroto, in the deep forest, where my mum was raised. At the age of 12, my grandfather, a shaman who also assisted births, took me for the first time to the place where he used to take ayahuasca. We were very close and I really enjoyed my time with him. He transferred me his gifts and taught me who to reposition a baby and how to plant banana, cassava and corn. I have healed people with medicinal plants including my own father who doesn’t trust conventional medicine. I joined Ampuakin in 2001 after Maruja Shihuango and her husband invited me to take part in a workshop here. I also work in my community. They call me when the wawas (babies) are sick and I heal them thanks to the gifts my grandfather gave me.
Certificates and recognition
ALLIES
