A conference organised by Casa Amèrica and Catalonia International reflected on the importance of dreams in indigenous culture

Yesterday was the last session of the "What do young people think...?" debate cycle, organised jointly by Casa America Catalonia and Catalonia International. This last debate reflected on dreams and their cultural and spiritual significance for the indigenous communities of the Ecuadorian Amazon. The event, which was open to the public and was attended by students from the Italian State Comprehensive Institute in Barcelona, consisted of a dialogue between the indigenous filmmaker Yanda Montahuano and the editor and cultural producer Claudi Carreras, who reflected on the connection between dreams and the protection of the Amazon.

Montahuano, a member of the Sapara people of Ecuador, explained that for his culture, which was declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, dreams are much more than imagination. "To dream is to live", he said. Through dreams, the Sapara communicate with ancestors, foresee dangers, decide how to act and find inspiration to continue fighting against the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. His voice, amplified through documentaries and his digital platforms -he has almost 90,000 followers on TikTok- seeks to raise awareness of the need for global action: "We are one with nature. If we destroy the forest, we destroy ourselves".

The editor and director of the VIST Foundation, Claudi Carreras, provided a broad overview of the richness and diversity of the Amazon, a region that spans nine countries and is home to more than 400 indigenous nationalities. Despite this incredible diversity, more than 600 of these cultures have been lost due to colonisation, the exploitation of the land and the pressure of modern societies. Carreras, who has extensive experience as an exhibition curator and editor of more than thirty books, stressed the importance of preserving both the land and the ancestral knowledge, which offers a unique vision of the relationship between humanity and nature.

During the conversation, Montahuano recounted personal experiences to illustrate how dreams guide his life. He explained that, since childhood, his dreams have conveyed messages that connect him to his mission of protecting the forest. In one such dream, he saw himself throwing arrows of light, symbolising his voice as a messenger for the forest. He also underlined, in the context of today's consumerist society, how his people exist in harmony with nature and only hunt and cultivate what they need to live, regarding any attack on the forest as a disruption of that sacred balance.

As the session drew to a close, Montahuano asked the students about their perceptions of indigenous cultures and what future they envision for the planet. The young people, still taken aback by what they had just heard, expressed a desire to explore the topic further. The filmmaker emphasised that dreaming is not just about imagining possibilities; it also involves taking action based on the often abstract messages from our subconscious. He encouraged them to write down their dreams, connect with the spiritual world and understand that by protecting the planet today, they are securing the lives of future generations. He also explained to the young people that, unlike the stereotypes all too often imposed, indigenous peoples have been able to evolve with the modern world and new technologies. "We are not cavemen, and therefore, we no longer live like cavemen, but we will always be connected to the forest", he said.

The session culminated with a powerful symbolic action: all the participants gathered in a circle and emitted the ancestral cries of the Sapara, which are used to establish communication on various levels. These cries, which connect with neighbouring villages, the forest, the animals and the spirit of the people themselves, echoed through the venue as a reminder of the Sapara people's deep spiritual and cultural relationship with their environment. Overall, this dialogue between cultures became more than just an encounter: it served as a call to action and reflection and a reminder of the transformative power of dreams.