This post features student work, writing and photographs.

Interviews by Olivia P. (text) and Jackson T. (photos)

Raphael Tamayo, President of Iltaqui

“He was president for the first time when he was 15 in 1976”

“He knew he wanted to help the community when two men died by being thrown off the cliff when the road flooded with rushing water”

“He dreams of having big tanks of water for the community and enough water for the crops and everyone in the community”

Luis Alfonso Morales, President of the Indigenous Communities of the Imbabura Region

“When someone is sick, the pain was there before, if you’re in touch with yourself spiritually you won’t be as vulnerable”

“A struggle he faced is the continuous fighting for their way of life and reviewing pressure from the rest of society to change their ways”

“All of us have mother earth in our hearts and that inspires him the most”

Rosa Helena and Ceci, Kitchen Cooks and Community Leaders

“Their work is seasonal so it is hard when there is nothing left to harvest, they are out of work”

“When I was little I would climb trees and play with dolls” – Ceci

“I have no strong childhood memories because I have been working since I was 10”- Rosa Helena

“I didn’t know what a doll was until I started working for my boss and saw one”

Jose Manuel, Maestro de Obra and Community Leader

“When he got sick his brother told him to stop drinking and return to Catholicism, he has been reconnected to the church for 3 years now”

“When he got married his wife moved into his house and his dad moved out”

“He was born in the house he lives in now”