The Tandana Foundation, a nonprofit organization that partners with communities in remote regions of Ecuador and Mali, will immerse attendees in the indigenous Kichwa Otavalo culture of Ecuador.

As part of The Eagle and the Condor program, five students from Ecuadorian universities will share stories, traditions, and perspectives from their lives in the Andes and the Kichwa Otavalo culture. The Ecuadorian students – who receive support from Tandana to pursue higher education while they contribute to their communities – will be visiting the U.S. for two weeks and participating in service projects and intercultural exchange with the Hopi Nation, and with Montezuma and La Plata County communities.  

The special event will also feature a sampling of typical Ecuadorian dishes, presentation of traditional clothing, and introduction to Kichwa Otavalo dance. 

“This event will be a powerful evening of cultural immersion and connection where attendees will not only be able to hear from these inspiring students, but experience Ecuador through the senses – tasting food, admiring embroidered clothing, enjoying dance, and more,” said Anna Taft, Tandana’s Founding Director and resident of Mancos. “We hope everyone will join us for this unique opportunity to learn about an indigenous culture firsthand, engaging with students who are overcoming barriers to achieve their dreams and contribute to their communities in Ecuador.” 

Tadana’s event is named after The Eagle and The Condor prophecy, which is shared by many Indigenous Peoples across the Americas. The prophecy speaks of of a time when the Eagle (representing the North and its emphasis on the mind, technology, and progress) and the Condor (representing the South and its connection to the heart, intuition, and the earth) will reunite and fly together in harmony – symbolizing a powerful era of healing, unity, and mutual respect between cultures.

“We are incredibly fortunate to host The Tandana Foundation and their event, ‘The Eagle and the Condor Flying Together,’” said Sarah Syverson, Sunflower Theatre Director. “This exceptional and unique immersive experience is what the Sunflower Theatre is meant for – bridging communities, unifying, and educating through joy and celebration of the culturally rich, diverse world that we all inhabit. You couldn’t ask for a better way to spend an evening in Montezuma County.”  

The Kichwa Otavalo are one of Ecuador’s indigenous groups most successful at maintaining their cultural identity and traditions. 

Tandana partners with a number of largely Kichwa Otavalo communities around the Quichinche parish – an approximately two-hour drive from Quito – on a wide variety of initiatives. All of these initiatives emerge from the communities priorities – from education to healthcare and income generation. 

The five Ecuadorian students are among the dozens of students that Tandana supports to pursue their higher education in subjects such as medicine, business administration, and law. In exchange for Tandana’s financial support, university scholarship recipients take part in service projects to share their new skills and knowledge and benefit their communities. 

While Tandana regularly organizes immersive volunteer trips for U.S. groups to Ecuador – which allow participants to engage in intercultural learning while they assist with community-driven projects alongside local residents – the visit in September represents the first time Tandana has brought scholarship recipients from Ecuador to the U.S.

“I’m excited to travel abroad because it can be a very enriching and exciting experience,” said Fredy Panama, an agronomy student at the Technical University of Cotopaxi who is from the Padre Chupa community of Ecuador. “It will be an opportunity to learn about new cultures, have unique experiences, and grow as a person.” 

Tuesday, September 16

7 p.m.

$20

About The Tandana Foundation

The Tandana Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports intercultural volunteer opportunities, scholarships, and community projects in highland Ecuador and Mali’s Dogon Country. For more information, please visit www.tandanafoundation.org.