Fundación Pachamama co-founded and has promoted the Cross-Border Network for the Defense of Ancestral Territories initiative since 2007 which serves as a solidarity network of indigenous communities, nationalities, and partner NGOs who are dedicated to sharing information, experiences, and proposals towards the goal of obtaining formal recognition of indigenous ancestral territories, with a special focus on those divided by national borders. The Cross-Border Network collaborates with the indigenous movement of the Amazon basin and supports the capacities of indigenous peoples to influence local, national, and international public policies in order to demand the respect of their human, collective, and territorial rights.
The Cross-Border Network works directly with indigenous nationalities and communities from five Amazonian countries: in the Ecuador and Peru the Achuar nationality, the Shuar (denomination in Ecuador) or as they are known in Peru, the Awajún (Aguaruna) and the Wampis (Huambisa), and the Zápara nationality; the Awá nationality of Colombia and Ecuador; the Cocama of Colombia and Peru; the Tikuna and Huitoto nationalities of Brazil, Colombia, and Peru; the Matsés and Shawi peoples of Peru; and the Esse Ejja, Cavineño, Machineri, Tacana, and Yaminahua nationalities of the Bolivian Amazon close to the border with Brazil.
These Amazonian border nationalities are particularly vulnerable to intimidation from extractive industries (oil, mining, logging, etc.) and bio-combustible companies that threaten their human, collective, and territorial rights, and especially their right to free, prior and informed consent on decisions that affect their lands.
