Protecting the sacred lake Koman Kenia in Peru
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My name is Florence Goupil, I am a photographer and co-founder of KAPÉ, an NGO dedicated to protecting the Koman Kenia lake in the Peruvian Rainforest.
The situation:
The Shipibos of the Koman Kenia community are the guardians of one of the last places on Earth where time does not exist. Their mission is to protect the lake that fosters and nurtures a unique flora and fauna. It is also a spiritual place where the first lights of the Shipibo have never ceased to shine.
Today, the acces to the lake is blocked by enormous pieces of wood, remants of the deforestation that the place has suffered. Everyday, the lake is threatened by deforestation, illegal fishing and pollution. It is urgent to act now!
“Some say that there was a village named Koman Kenia and that on the village’s edge, there was a river and on the river’s bank, there was a magic tree. This tree gave fruits which were unique in the world. The birds who ate it turned into fish and swam in the river, the fish who ate it became birds and flew in the sky. One day, a man took the fruit’s seeds and put it on the earth all around Koman Kenia.
Immediately, the earth began to tremble and rose up in the sky. The earth flew away, taking the Shipibos who lived upon it. In place of the land, the lake of Koman Kenia appeared. The remaining Shipibos became its guardians.”
Today, five years after my first trip, friendship and empathy have brought about my greatest project : creating a photo book revealing the spirit of the Shipibo tribe and their bond to the Koman Kenia lake.
The photo book “Koman Kenia” tells the story of the guardians of a sacred lake in the Peruvian Rainforest who are members of the Shipibo-Conibo people. Through my many travels to the heart of the Amazon rainforest, I was able to build a deep friendship with members of this tribe while discovering their unique culture.
I want to edit this book and publish it so as to make their existence known.
By buying the book, you will help us in preserving the ancestral bond between the lake and its guardians.
All donations will go to the NGO KAPÉ, that works for the protection of the lake.
Donations will be used to edit a photo book of the Koman Kenia, guardians of sacred lake. All the profits will go to the non-profit Kapé. Kapé works to raise funds that will allow the Shipibo to preserve their lands in the Amazon.
KAPÉ’s first goal is to make the lake and the territory of the Koman Kenia a protected area under state law. The NGO will work together with the chief of the Koman Kenia to start to secure land rights. Funds are needed to pay for the trip to the Ministry of Agriculture in Lima and for the first legal process itself. This is the first step in effectively preserving the lake : official documents stating clearly the boundaries of Koman Kenia territory.
The next step is to provide the necessary equipment for the Koman Kenia to safeguard their territory. They will need a motor boat to patrol the waters and tools such as chainsaws to clear the path to the lake. Third, KAPÉ will assist in the building of an outpost at the lake so they can be present at all times. Fourth, KAPÉ will provide the community with basic medicine. The nearest hospital is in Pucallpa, a six-hour boat ride from the village, and medical visits are costly.
For more info visit KAPÉ NGO and our facebook page KAPÉ.
The NGO KAPÉ was founded on August 11th, 2016 by Alice Adrien and Florence Goupil. The project is born from a strong friendship and the same love for Peru, the Amazon and the Shipibo-Conibo people. Gabriel Indalicio is their guide, he gave them the keys to understand their culture. His Shipibo name is Senencina, it means “the right balance”.
Visit THE FOUNDERS.
KAPÉ is an NGO dedicated to the protection of the lake «Koman Kenia». This is where the first Shipibo-Conibo of the Peruvian rainforest lived in communion with nature.
Like other tribes living in the Amazon rainforest, the Shipibos are currently facing many dangers. Extreme poverty, deforestation, oil drilling, gold mining, illegal logging and fishing are threatening their land, resources, and way of life.
KAPÉ wants to make the lake and the territory of the «Koman Kenia» an official indigenous reserve. KAPÉ will work together with the Shipibos of «Koman Kenia» to secure the land rights.
This way, the flora and fauna of the indigenous territory will be protected and the spiritual connexion between the Shipibos of «Koman Kenia» and their lake will be safeguarded and transmitted to the next generations.
For more information visit KAPÉ site.