Cofanes

The Cofan communities are scattered through ten settlements in Ecuador and four Colombia, although they consider themselves members of one single Nation. They have lived by hunting, fishing and gathering for thousands of years in that area. The Cofan nation is one of the world’s smallest, with only 1,000people in 10 communities. Their environment and traditional way of life is currently under threat from western development, particularly through the actions of Texaco who have been drilling for oil in the area for over 30 years.

Oil spill in Cofan territory

This has caused massive deforestation (with a subsequent loss of food, medicinal plants & other materials), pollution of the rivers & air and widespread fires. It is also destroying the community’s cultural traditions. The Cofan see the forest as a living entity which is being violated by drilling into the ground. Oil development has also brought with it diseases to which the Cofan have no natural immunity, and poverty is on the increase. The Cofan have lost over 90% of their land and their remaining lands are fragmented, leading to a breakdown in community cohesion.

If you want to know more about the impacts of coca cultivation, petroleum activity and the armed conflict on the ancestral territory of the Cofán community go here

If you want to make a donation to the Cofan project please go here. If you want to know more about Friends of the Earth Scotland campaigns or become a member contact Friends of the Earth Scotland.

COSMOVISION: THE STORY OF COAN COAN

Cofan Elder

The Cofan people in the Ecuadorian Amazon are on the edge of extinction. The elders receive advice from their gods, and underground beings such us the COAN COAN to direct their people. In their cosmovision respect for life, nature, and the underworld are the laws that rule their territory. Below, Fidel Aguinda (Cofan young leader) describes how the oil industry undermines not just their environment but their connection with the natural world.

“COAN COAN is an underground being. He has a house, as we do. He is not a god, not a monster,only a being.

When The Shaman (wise man) needs an advice, he always seeks advice from COAN COAN, the same when he needs to ask for a favour to the community , such as more game or fishing.

COAN COAN belongs to COFAN People, is a part of their life. As any other being, COAN COAN needs to rest, sleep….when he sleeps he become a rock and his blood turns into oil.

The oil companies kill COAN COAN when they do the perforation in order to extract black gold, COAN COAN is torn into shreds.

Cofan people can not allow them to destroy part of their life, they can not let the COAN COAN to be killed, that is the reason why some of the Cofan communities are against the oil industry in their territories”