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NOTE: The below food system data is only a fraction of The Last Look Back Hunter-Gatherer Data Base which contains data on disease, health history, hundreds of pages of qualitative data including sound recordings of songs etc, family history often going back several generations, poison use, mortality & morbidity and much more over a period of constant continuous living with the communities year round. Please ask if you want access. Criteria for access will be partly based on how your project will help the Waorani.

 

Note: Much of the data is comparative with neighboring farming subsistence agriculture groups both Kichwa and Waorani often referred to as "hunter-gatherers" by other researchers. Our definition of "hunter-gatherer" is strictly based on percentage of dependence on actual "hunting' and "gathering" - a wild food system. We do not define a hunter-gatherer by degree of previous contact with outsiders.

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More than just understanding the research The Kawymeno Waorani actual conducted their own research on their traditional diet and health. The aim was to show the outside world the great aspects of their culture, particularly diet and health as an example to all Waorani to consider the value of their traditional culture as an alternative to the lures of modernization. The Kawymeno want to protect their eco-system from outsiders. Any questions researchers have can be directed to our Waorani and Kichwa research associates who live in the community.  

 

With a decade of working with the Kawymeno Waorani, other Waorani and Kichwa we are know throughout the region. We have earned their trust over the years. We spend much of our efforts helping the Waorani make difficult decisions and understand the encroaching modern world. These regions are still dangerous and we do not recommend outsiders entering without knowing the communities. Many outsiders have been killed over the years.