Public Issues Series: Tsachilas of Ecuador’s Western Rain Forest

All events will be presented in Spanish with simultaneous translation.

Date: Thursday, October 18
Time: 12 – 1 p.m.
Location: UW-Madison
Union South
1308 W. Dayton St.
Madison, WI

Date: Tuesday, October 23
Time: 7 – 8 p.m.a
Location: UW-Marathon County
Auditorium
518 S. Seventh Ave.
Wausau, WI

Date: Monday, October 29
Time: 12 – 1 p.m.
Location: UW-Washington County
Room 305
400 University Dr.
West Bend, WI

Presented by Henry Calazacon, a member of and spokesperson for the Tsáchila nation. He will visit the U.S. as an official representative of his tribe to speak about their culture and its history, to discuss the challenges they face to maintain their culture on the outskirts of Ecuador’s fastest-growing city, and to meet with community members and North American tribal leaders to share common experiences.

An estimated 2,500 Tsáchilas live on seven small reservations near Ecaudor’s fastest growing city, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchila; they are the last living descendants of the Yumbos, a pre-Hispanic people. The visit was arranged by anthropology professor Ron Lippi of UW-Marathon County, who has played a key role in bringing the couple to the United States on cultural visas.