Celebrating the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous people across the world are proud of the identities, cultures, and traditions that they’ve inherited. With over 7,000 languages estimated to be spoken worldwide, the 476 million Indigenous people speak a large majority of them. They represent over 5,000 distinct cultures. Unfortunately, this culturally diverse population has too often experienced rights violations, leaving them vulnerable.

To bring awareness to the challenges that indigenous people face, the United Nations named August 9th as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples in 1994 (this year the observance takes place today, on Monday, 10 August). It commemorates the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Peoples that was held in 1982, established as a way for indigenous peoples to share their experiences and concerns with the UN.

Since Rosaprima’s beginnings in 1995, we have expanded to 400 acres of rich farmland in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador. Ecuador is home to fourteen distinct, culturally diverse indigenous groups of people. These make up 6.8% of the population according to the latest 2010 census. The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), however, believes that the the number is closer to 25 or 30%.

The 80s in Ecuador saw great financial unrest and unemployment within the country, greatly affecting minority and indigenous populations. In the Guachalá region where the Rosaprima estate is located, economic opportunities caused a mass migration in search of jobs. Our strong belief in the potential of the people of Ecuador has allowed the communities to find a viable way to support themselves.

A major hurdle faced by indigenous groups of Ecuador is access to healthcare, particularly in remote areas. Subsequently, the wellbeing of our employees and their families have always been one of our main concerns at Rosaprima. We offer free access to an on-site medical professional, nutritious meals and coffee breaks, transportation, and discounted prices on goods through strategic partnerships. We also are proud to offer employees access to education and training.

Our commitment to our employees goes beyond their health and wellbeing; preserving and improving the environment in which we work is one of the foundations of how we conduct our business. Likewise, we understand that land and resources are an integral part of indigenous cultures. We are therefore proud to minimize our ecological footprint through sustainable methods and good practices.

On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Rosaprima is proud to have Ecuador’s rich tapestry of Indigenous Peoples strongly represented in our community.