Regenerate Native Ecosystems to Strengthen Local Communities
Since 2010, OIOC (Organization for Indigenous Outreach and Conservation) has served the Sibundoy Valley, Putumayo region of Colombia, under the leadership of Taita Juan Bautista Agreda and Circle of Sacred Nature (CSN), See History of Projects.
We’ve managed $50k in donations. With a small amount of funds, we’ve had a high impact, including building construction, 10-year botanical gardens, community workshops and social work, and pilot reforestation.
We've innitiated a 1700-species reforestation and food security project, repaired eighteen homes for vulnerable families, and hosted ongoing workshops on ecology and indigenous traditions, benefitting 300+ families. With more support, we'll scale our reforestation & ethnobotanical efforts and explore sustainable livelihoods aligned with the land and our culture.
PRESENT PROJECTS
2022 - Present
Green Rebirth: Reforestation and Food Security: Actions for Biodiversity Conservation and Native Seeds in Alto Putumayo, Colombia
The Green Rebirth Project aims to revitalize biodiversity and empower Indigenous communities in the Alto Amazon by integrating ancestral knowledge with modern conservation practices. Through initiatives such as establishing a greenhouse, a seed bank, and food security programs, Green Rebirth seeks to restore the region's natural ecosystems and ensure sustainable livelihoods for the Kamentsa and Inga peoples.
Restoring Biodiversity and Kamentsa Food Sovereignty
1700 species planted
2023 - Present
The Weavers of Memory is a group led by Mercedes Agreda, OIOC founder, who documents the oral literature of the Kamentsa people. They aim to protect the language, a cornerstone of our identity. The objective is to return to the origins of ancient memory by reclaiming the stories, traditions, customs, and experiences of the Kamentsa people.
This project is crucial for preserving biocultural knowledge, particularly the wisdom of our elders. It is part of our efforts to conserve the language, art, and medicinal practices vital for restoring the community's sovereignty. The videos created will be part of a library accessible to future generations.
Weavers of Memory
Documenting oral history of the Kamentsa lenguage
2021 - Present
2013 - Present
Botanical Gardens, presenvation of biodiversity
Over 10+ years, we’ve preserved and cultivated 350+ native medicinal plants with proceeds from Circle of Sacred Nature's reciprocity effort and Shanayoy Healing Center, also operated by us on the reservation. With 5m rows for each plant species, we hope to preserve ancestral medicine traditions, supply plants for clinical study, and offer treatments for various disease, as we preserve the biodiversity present in the Amazon of Colombia.
This project is a key component of the Green Rebirth initiative, aimed at the biocultural conservation of ancestral knowledge on plant medicine. We are reproducing various species to share with the community, focusing on sustainability and regeneration. Any surplus will contribute to income streams by being transformed into medicinal products.
2019 - Present
The basic housing needs of the community are currently unmet, with poverty levels evident in the condition of the homes where children and elders reside. This initiative is of critical importance, especially given the harsh winter weather in the valley. The project focuses on essential repairs, including fixing structural holes and improving kitchen and bathroom facilities, to ensure dignified living conditions for the community. With the support of CSN and the international community, we rebuilt homes to rehouse 24 families previously living in unsanitary conditions. We continue this support as there are situations of basic food security in the community.
House reconstruction and basic needs support, Kamentsa community