Appendix - Adventure Guide to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - page 446

success stories across the globe. Ecotourismdevelopment is playing a
big role in these efforts.
Many proponents of economic growth in Ecuador view ecotourism as
being at odds with other development strategies, such as resource ex-
traction and the production of cash crops for export. In many cases
this results in serious friction between environmental groups and sci-
entists on the one hand, and industry on the other. Indigenous groups
often get caught somewhere in the middle. Some are looking for jobs
and the “better” life, while others are determined to preserve their
cultural heritage and tradition. Tourism proponents and indigenous
communitiesmay also clash, depending on the circumstances. The in-
digenousHuaorani community inEcuador's Amazonia is a perfect ex-
ample.
The Huaorani are a nomadic forest people who reside in the region
south of Coca and east of Tena and Puyo in Ecuador's Oriente. Con-
flict began in the 1970s, when the first oil companies began to extract
from this region. During the early days of the petroleum industry
there was a strong marriage between the government and business.
As a result, the oil companies developed the region with little - if any
- regard to the environment and local people. The early encounters
between the Huaorani and oil workers ended in bloodshed on more
than one occasion. The determined resistance of the Huaorani even-
tually forced some oil giants to withdraw from Ecuador, though only
temporarily.
With roads having been developed, the tourism industry entered the
country shortly thereafter. Unchecked tourism quickly became the
single major catalyst for cultural degradation of the Huaorani. Abu-
sive tour outfitters often lacked any more consideration than the oil
companies. The Huaorani responded with demands of gifts and tolls
for visiting their lands, and even went so far as to harass tourists for
their belongings. Some confrontations between tour guides and the
Huaorani became violent. As the situation deteriorated, the
Huaorani became opposed to ecotourism in their homeland. Since
then, however, outside organizations have worked with indigenous
organizations to promote education and ecotourism within a mone-
tary economy. It has taken years of hard work on everyone's part to
develop a proper relationship, but success stories do exist. Although
still a sensitive issue, now the nature and culture enthusiast can visit
and stay with the Huaorani people.