PROJECT NOKE KOI
IN THE VILLAGE OF VARÎ TEKA
PROJECT
TRADITIONAL HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION NOKE KOÎ
LOCATION
KATUKINA CAMPINAS INDIGENOUS LAND – ACRE STATE – BRAZIL
TOWN
VARÎ TEKA
BUDGET
86,000 €
presentation
The NOKE KOÎ - "Real People"
The Noke Koî are part of a Brazilian tribe located in the northeastern region of Acre. There are several Noke koî villages located on the Campinas Katukina Indigenous Lands as well as along the Gregorio River.
The tribe is divided into 6 clans: Kamanawa, Varinawa, Satanawa, Waninawa, Nomanawa, Nainawa
Coming from the Pano linguistic trunk, they are among the rare tribes to have preserved their language and have been able to keep their ancestral cultures through time.
For countless generations, they have lived in harmony with each other and with their environment.
The Noke Koi have been guardians of the Amazon rainforest for millennia – protectors of the land, plants, animals, natural medicines, spiritual wisdom, culture and their children who will continue this legacy left by their ancestors.
But with the impact of the modern world as well as government pressures, they are threatened, and the protection of their knowledge, their family and their home in the Amazon is a daily struggle.
Vari Vena supports the projects of the Varî Teka village, one of the villages of the Noke Koî people, in order to face together the various difficulties encountered and to perpetuate the tradition for future generations.
THE STORY
The story goes that they came out of a big hole under the earth. Koka Pino Txari, the name given to God in the indigenous language, heard human voices coming from underground and hidden by a spider web. He then freed them.
The Noke Koî began to leave and walked along the edge of a large river, looking for a bridge to cross. Finding nothing to cross, they camped on the banks while continuing their search.
In the midst of all this, while traveling along the river, two young women encountered an alligator. They run scared after the Pajé – called Romeya in the Noke Vaná language. Back there with this spiritual leader, they explain that they came out of the ground and are trying to cross the river.
The caiman quickly understood that, since there was no bridge, the only way to cross was to go on its back, and they managed to cross the river, where the people now live in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, practicing and preserving their cultural riches, their medicines, their traditional games, their songs, their paintings, their typical foods, etc.
The Noke Koî are warriors who resist maintaining their mother tongue. So they want to show their traditions to the Western world and say that spirituality is important to live in peace with joy and respect, especially because we are one on this earth.
THE DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED
- Food – Due to the overburdened indigenous territories, it is difficult for the community to obtain food directly from the forest. What’s more, the river that runs through their land is small and can’t guarantee fishing autonomy for the village. Most of the time, they have to buy food in the city, which is often contaminated with chemicals.
- Security – The Katukina Campiñas Indigenous Land is crossed by a major road that connects the capital of the state of Acre-Río Branco-to Cruzeiro do Sul. Many situations have already occurred in the villages.
- Government pressure – Lack of aid.
- Pressure from companies destroying the Amazon.
- Indigenous rights are not always recognised.
- Deaths – Many people have lost their lives to protect their land from companies that pollute or participate in deforestation.
- Difficulties faced by climate change – Period of severe drought or flooding problems in certain villages.
THE PROJECT
Construction of a traditional Noke Koî hospital. TARA KAWATI
In this space dedicated to traditional practices, young Noke Koî will be able to deepen the different knowledge of their ancestral culture; songs, arts, stories, language and medicines of the forest. This is a very important project for the village in order to give continuity to these traditions for future generations.
Children are our future. Children are the future healers, leaders and preservers of the Earth and the indigenous practices and values that have supported humanity for generations. In this center, they will be able to give continuity to the work of their ancestors by learning alongside the pajés (medicine men and women)
But this space is not only reserved for the NokeKoî people. It is built for all people who wish to come and heal themselves through the natural medicines of the forest, to immerse themselves with the community and will also be a place of welcome for visitors who wish to immerse themselves in the ancestral knowledge of the jungle, study the different practices, culture and medicinal plants.
In order to honor their past, the center will be in the shape of a crocodile, Tara kawati, representing all the path and history that has been traveled by the Noke Koî people and which will have served as a bridge for the tribe.
The crocodile represents the transformation of a new time, a new history, a new organization, a new vision of the Noke KoÏ people.
The crocodile had said: “When you cross to the other side of the river, you will have positive thoughts, thoughts of joy, peace, tranquility. You must encounter a more peaceful space to live. »
THE PROJECT REPRESENTATIVES
Pina Varinawa
Pina Varinawa is one of the spiritual leaders of the NokeKoî people and the chief of the village of Varî teka.
He was initiated from a young age and his grandparents Txoki Waninawa and Peo Varinawa, two great shamans, taught him the ancestral knowledge of his people, such as medicine and sacred songs.
An artist and musician whose goal is to spread Noke Koî culture through art, Pina is a composer of music. Pina takes on the role of indigenous leader in environmental protection and climate justice by participating in national and international conferences, such as at the University of Stavanger, Norway, and at UNESCO in Paris.
PANA KAMANAWA
Panã Kamãnawa, a young leader from the Varî Teka village, is deeply committed to preserving and passing on the ancestral knowledge of his people, the Noke Koî.
As the son and grandson of great shamans, he left his village at the age of 15 to share the spirituality, medicine, and traditions of his people across Brazil and beyond. A musician and healer, he works to protect the Amazon rainforest and preserve indigenous culture in the face of modern challenges. Today, he champions the traditional Tara Kawati hospital project, a symbol of renewal for his community.
THE GOALS
- Transmit ancestral knowledge to the youth of the village.
- Place of transformation and healing for those who wish.
- Honor their ancestors and give continuity to future generations.
- Study Noke koî knowledge for those who are interested: diets, songs, art, painting.
- Have a welcoming place to receive visitors
- Connect more with biodiversity and with the guardians of the forest.
The budget forecast
CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOSPITAL
60 000€
CONSTRUCTION OF THE MEDICINE HOUSE
6 000€
SOLAR PANELS
5 000€
CONSTRUCTION OF A DRINKING WATER
5 000€
EQUIPMENT IN THE CENTER (beds-kitchens-other goods, etc.)
5 000€
TRAVEL EXPENSES
5 000€
TOTAL : 86 000€
for people in Europe
for people outside Europe
HELP US Build
A traditional Varinawa Hospital
Within the Varinawa community, the Vari Vena project was born. In 2020, thanks to fundraising efforts, we were able to contribute to the construction of a Kupichawa, a gathering place for the community to share their practices.
You too can contribute to the construction of the traditional hospital Noke Koî, a vital location for preserving ancestral knowledge and supporting the Varî Teka village community.