Amaraka, The Eternal Tales.
Based on a compilation of animistic cosmology, the Old Memory chant woman, dreams the world [of the Americas] as liberated and in peace.
The text is narrated in Zaparo, an extremely endangered language from the Sapara nation in the Ecuadorian rainforest, This piece is in response to our relation to the land, the
need for resistance, and the importance of dream as a political incantory act.
Chapters:
Old Memory chant woman descends
Put Honey in his feet
Mud woman dances
She, who takes off her mud/skin and creates life
Amaraka, The Eternal Tales.
Based on a compilation of animistic cosmology, the Old Memory chant woman, dreams the world [of the Americas] as liberated and in peace.
The text is narrated in Zaparo, an extremely endangered language from the Sapara nation in the Ecuadorian rainforest, This piece is in response to our relation to the land, the
need for resistance, and the importance of dream as a political incantory act.
Chapters:
Old Memory chant woman descends
Put Honey in his feet
Mud woman dances
She, who takes off her mud/skin and creates life
AMARAKA, THE ETERNAL TALES
Nuka yakawiria nau nukati mukushinia
Muy arriba en la corteza de los arboles,
Very high in the canopy of some trees,
Nau wikaja akanuja aka aki mapa tsawanu
Las hojas entrecruzadas crean un mapa en su sombra
The branches that traverse create a map in their shadow
Nau rapaka ikicha ikiumu
La tierra esta humeda
The land is moist
Kika esmeralda, Kika iyauna
Verde esmeralda, verde wayusa,
Green Esmerald, green bitter leaf
Naruka kuyajaka
Piedras huacas guardianes
Guardian stones
Chatim nakuna ati nau irishipijaunu
Cada planta/ser tiene su historia
Each plant/being has their story
Omeede
Ta richunu nau ninakari.
Se espera la noche
They wait for the night
Iya katsaka kawiria nau katsaka ikicha iwana yanukua
Dejando que todo lo que esta bajo el sol
Letting everything that is under the sun
Ataunjuka
Descanse
Rest
Niatu nau Jumandi
Hija de Jumandi
Daugther of Jumandi
Nau paratu atinu, nau mukushi Piatsaw nakuna atinu
El viento le habla, el palo santo prendido le habla
The wind speaks, the heartwood ignited, speaks
Pakatetaka tsamarujinia
Prende al alma dice
Ignite the soul, it says
Charatu ta tsamaraw Tomadora de espíritu
Imbiber of the soul
Nau naku ta ku ikicha, nuka katsaka nau nashini ta
La selva te llama, para que la cuides
The forest calls, to care for her
Ikicha kuiñu pirinu
Estos hermanos menores
These younger brothers
Saninu ta iki nukiriu
Confundidos en su espejo
Confused in their reflection
Taikua aniki nukisha
No saben ver
They do not know how to see
Nau imatiña ta ikinu
El jaguar le pregunta:
The jaguar asks:
Nau pajinu ikicha ku tsamaraw
A donde esta tu alma?
Where is your soul?
Tsururuku irishipiukanu
Contando historias,
Telling stories
Ataujuka anaka icha nau aramaja
Haciéndonos recordar a través de la piel.
Reminding us through her skin
Katsaka tausi nujinia anaka, ta,
Que somos hechos de memorias,
That we are made of memories,
Ta muricha, nukiti, rapaka, naka ta anamishuka.
De agua, aceite, tierra, sangre y sal.
Of water, oil, mud, blood and salt.
-Excerpt from Old Memory Woman Chants,
Amaraka the eternal tales
Koyoltzintli Miranda Rivadeneira
Zápara translation by Shimanu Ushigua, defensor de la selva
Written and Directed: Koyoltzintli Miranda-Rivadeneira. Featuring Performers: Alex Barragan, Nikesha Breeze, Sri Louise, Verito Monart. Postproduction sound and video: Boloh Miranda. Production Assistant: Joseph Huston and Jessica Hubbarb Marr. Music instruments: Esteban Valdiviezo. *This video was filmed in the ancestral lands of the Tewa pueblo and in the Andean province of El Bolivar and Azuay in Ecuador.
AMARAKA THE ETERNAL TALES
Nuka yakawiria nau nukati mukushinia
Muy arriba en la corteza de los arboles,
Very high in the canopy of some trees,
Nau wikaja akanuja aka aki mapa tsawanu
Las hojas entrecruzadas crean un mapa en su sombra
The branches that traverse create a map in their shadow
Nau rapaka ikicha ikiumu
La tierra esta humeda
The land is moist
Kika esmeralda, Kika iyauna
Verde esmeralda, verde wayusa,
Green Esmerald, green bitter leaf
Naruka kuyajaka
Piedras huacas guardianes
Guardian stones
Chatim nakuna ati nau irishipijaunu
Cada planta/ser tiene su historia
Each plant/being has their story
Omeede
Ta richunu nau ninakari
Se espera la noche
They wait for the night
Iya katsaka kawiria nau katsaka ikicha iwana yanukua
Dejando que todo lo que esta bajo el sol
Letting everything that is under the sun
Ataunjuka
Descanse
Rest
Niatu nau Jumandi
Hija de Jumandi
Daugther of Jumandi
Nau paratu atinu, nau mukushi Piatsaw nakuna atinu
El viento le habla, el palo santo prendido le habla
The wind speaks, the heartwood ignited, speaks
Pakatetaka tsamarujinia
Prende al alma dice
Ignite the soul, it says
Charatu ta tsamaraw
Tomadora de espíritu
Imbiber of the soul
Nau naku ta ku ikicha, nuka katsaka nau nashini ta
La selva te llama, para que la cuides
The forest calls, to care for her
Ikicha kuiñu pirinu
Estos hermanos menores
These younger brothers
Saninu ta iki nukiriu
Confundidos en su espejo
Confused in their reflection
Taikua aniki nukisha
No saben ver
They do not know how to see
Nau imatiña ta ikinu
El jaguar le pregunta:
The jaguar asks:
Nau pajinu ikicha ku tsamaraw
A donde esta tu alma?
Where is your soul?
Tsururuku irishipiukanu
Contando historias,
Telling stories
Ataujuka anaka icha nau aramaja
Haciéndonos recordar a través de la piel.
Reminding us through her skin
Katsaka tausi nujinia anaka, ta,
Que somos hechos de memorias,
That we are made of memories,
Ta muricha, nukiti, rapaka, naka ta anamishuka.
De agua, aceite, tierra, sangre y sal.
Of water, oil, mud, blood and salt.
-Excerpt from Old Memory Woman Chants,
Amaraka the eternal tales
Koyoltzintli Miranda Rivadeneira
Zápara translation by Shimanu Ushigua, defensor de la selva
Written and Directed: Koyoltzintli Miranda-Rivadeneira. Featuring Performers: Alex Barragan, Nikesha Breeze, Sri Louise, Verito Monart. Postproduction sound and video: Boloh Miranda. Production Assistant: Joseph Huston and Jessica Hubbarb Marr. Music instruments: Esteban Valdiviezo.
This video was filmed in the ancestral lands of the Tewa pueblo and in the Andean province of El Bolivar and Azuay in Ecuador.