The Ecuadorian rainforest is home to the Kichwa People of Pastaza, the largest Indigenous nationality in the country. They’ve lived and thrived in the forest for centuries, but as society changes and newer generations disengage from the culture, it has become difficult to maintain and pass down their traditions. That is why, in 2022, a group of Kichwa women ceramicists founded the artisan collective called Sinchi Muskuyuk Warmi (SMW). 

These 30 women gather on a regular basis to create Mukawa, the oldest Amazonian ceramics tradition in the Americas. The process spans multiple days and is labor-intensive, utilizing locally sourced supplies, detailed hand-building skills, and intricate, symbolic painting techniques. Once finished, the ceramics are either used for ceremonial purposes or for serving traditional drinks. More recently though, the women started selling them, creating an important source of income for the community. In 2023, the income generated by Mukawa sales averaged US$3,000 per month, which went directly to the women ceramicists and their families.  

Tasked with the responsibility of maintaining this ancestral tradition and important source of income, the SMW master ceramicists partnered with the Fundación Sinchi Sacha (FSS) to prevent its extinction. Together, they applied for Rights and Resources Initiative’s (RRI) Strategic Response Mechanism (SRM), a resource that provides timely, flexible financial support for unforeseen opportunities or threats.  

RRI awarded them US$100,000 to support their efforts in obtaining the Declaration of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) status, which would ensure the protection, support, and revitalization of the Mukawa in accordance with Ecuadorian law. The timing of the designation was crucial, as it takes 18 months to obtain this status, and the process was set to conclude in March 2026. Therefore, soon after receiving the funds, SMW got to work devising a plan. 

First, they held four workshops and one reinforcement session to raise awareness among the SMW group about the need to establish an organizational structure to address issues of production, marketing, and promotion. Then, they hosted peer-to-peer training groups held by master ceramic artists to share ancestral and technical knowledge of the craft with other ceramicists from local communities. To improve the impact of their work, they attended local and international trade fairs where artists could sell Mukawa, spread information about its importance, and gather positive reviews. They also executed a media plan, which included taking 100 pictures of the art, creating a promotional video about the importance of pottery, and writing multiple blog posts about the tradition.   

After months of hard work and creating technical documents, including three academic studies on the Mukawa, on October 13, 2025, they hit their first big milestones. Utilizing resources from these activities, including pictures of the trainings, trade fairs, and completed Mukawa, the SMW had their Cultural Manifestation of the Kichwa Mukawa of Pastaza registration approved as a cultural asset by the Information System of the Cultural Heritage of Ecuador (SIPCE). This status was crucial to proving the importance of Mukawa.  

Capitalizing on this momentum, the SMW developed communication between the FSS and national authorities to advocate for the importance of achieving the ICH declaration. This required collaborative work with the local authority, Gobierno Autónomo Descentralizado Municipal of Pastaza, to create a safeguarding plan to ensure the effectiveness of the ICH declaration.   

Finally, after more than a year of developing and applying marketing strategies, creating technical documents, and advocating for the importance of their culture, all of their hard work paid off. On March 4, 2026, the SMW achieved the ICH declaration for Mukawa. In response, Catalina Sosa, president of the Fundacion Sinchi Sacha, stated, “For the ceramicists of Pastaza, the designation of the Mukawa as Intangible Cultural Heritage is an honor bestowed by the Ecuadorian government for their faithful preservation of a living ancestral tradition.” 

This achievement is monumental. It will help preserve the ancestral knowledge and art of the Kichwa Indigenous women and provide protection and support for its long-term sustainability, strengthening the management of natural resources, community governance, and women’s economic empowerment in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Banner image credit: Andreas Margraff