recounts the story of the Kichwa people of the Ecuadorian Amazon and their ongoing relationship with the outside world. Through their own words, the Kichwa tell the story of their culture from before the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors in the 16th century through the present day. This story is punctuated by periods of upheaval that threatened traditional ways of life and changed their culture. Most significant is the period shortly after the arrival of the Conquistadors during which the Kichwa were subjugated and exploited. After a period of intense abuse, a local chief named Jumandi organized a rebellion that undermined Spanish control of the region and enabled their culture to endure. This story provides a foundation for understanding their current situation. Today the legacy of Jumandi persists and is ever present in the cultural identity of the Kichwa people. Yet this identity is challenged by globalization. Today, the Kichwa are attempting to reconcile what it means to be indigenous in the modern world. Ultimately their struggle is not in resisting the changes to their way of life, but in finding ways to accept them on their own terms while still maintaining their cultural identity.

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Documentary, History