About Naku


A community owned and operated eco-tourism center from the Sapara Nation of the Ecuadorian Amazon to share our wisdom and transformational experiences with guests from around the world

 Today, our culture is on the brink of disappearing. Once a nation of 200,000 people, now, between Ecuador and Peru, there are less than 600 Sapara left and only 5 still speak the language. We created NAKU (meaning jungle in Sapara) as a way to pass on our ancient wisdom to the outside world.

OUR MISSION 

We feel that one of the solutions to the root of the many crises the world faces is in recognizing and healing our relationship with nature and the Earth. It is our mission to share our knowledge and wisdom of medicinal plants, the power of dreams, and the spirit world with others around the world. 

OUR VISION 

We envision a world where humanity understands the importance of living in harmony with the Earth and the rights of nature are respected by all.

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CHANGING THE FUTURE OF THE AMAZON

We can no longer live outside of the money system. We have chosen to create Naku as a way to share our message with the world and create sustainable and circular financial opportunities for our community. The proceeds from Naku go directly to support our community and culture. Right now, Naku is centered around the four communities of Matsakaw, Llanchamacocha, Naruka, and Nakuna, and in the future, our goal is to benefit all Sapara communities. 

Our goal is to preserve our culture through educating our youth in a way that honors and maintains Sapara traditions. Currently, we have the capacity to offer schooling to about 20 students, but with the continued growth of Naku, we hope to offer our youth a chance to achieve a university degree in a way that respects our knowledge and that is recognized by the government.

This is the most effective way to support our youth to continue staying connected with our traditions and protect the forest for years to come.

By opening our community to receive visitors from around the world and through our online workshops, we hope to share our knowledge about how to live in balance with nature, demonstrate another way to generate revenue that doesn’t destroy the forest like oil, logging, or mining, and generate income to support the preservation of our Sapara culture.

Naku also provides financial support for community health emergencies, infrastructure and basic needs.

Manari Ushigua and Channing Tatum