Condor Rising

So many communities throughout the Andes and Peru are faced with significant destabilization resulting from intrusion of the industrialized world. Whether it be well-intended spiritual travelers or the deepening tide of mass media, Peru’s indigenous cultures and traditions are under threat. We have come to understand that when Americans and Europeans show their deep interest and engagement in Paqokuna, it can inspire indigenous youth to understand the value of tradition.

Each year during our annual ECC pilgrimage to Peru, the Condor Rising program will support one or two youth, chosen by the Paqos (Andean Priests) themselves, to accompany us on our journey. This will provide the youth with a cross-cultural experience of their traditions as well as the opportunity to participate in ceremony at numerous sacred sites.

Godparents Program

One of the surest ways of deepening sustained and meaningful friendship and connection with our brothers and sisters in the Andes is for us to become godparents of children from the communities to which we are connected. The role of an ECC Godparent can take many forms depending on the individuals involved, but is rooted in providing support for children and families that allow their culture and Paqokuna traditions to thrive and persist. First and foremost, ECC Godparents will provide clothing (at least once a year) and support for the child and family in case of medical emergency. In addition, godparents may optionally support: various Stages of initiation within the Catholic community such as communion; supporting training in the traditional ways of Paqokuna; and educational opportunities.

The ECC’s commitment to the project is to help pair ideal families and Godparents, and with the help of our partner in Peru Paqo don Abraham Alberto Santacruz, to ensure that resources get to the families and godchildren in the most efficient way possible.

The focal point for launch of this program is the widespread community of Pacchanta at the foot of the sacred mountain Ausangate.

If you are interested in becoming a godparent, please let us know. 

Golden Threads Peruvian Artistry Partnership

We are delighted to announce the launch of Golden Threads Peruvian Artistry, a venture headed by Lea Motlow, a beloved member of our community and teaching circles. Lea’s vision is to create a resource for mesa carriers and others who enjoy Andean textile art to purchase high quality products at a very reasonable price. The best part is that we are working directly with the artisans, so they receive top dollar for their creations. This helps support the artisans and the communities where they live. Our partner in Peru is Abraham Alberto Fernandez Santa Cruz whom, we affectionately call “don Beto”, a highly respected Paqo (Andean priest) who works directly with communities such as Pacchanta at the foot of the sacred mountain, Apu Ausangate.

Visit Golden-Threads.com

ECC partners with COTAP (Carbon Offsets To Alleviate Poverty)

ECC is happy to announce a new partnership with COTAP.org (Carbon Offsets To Alleviate Poverty). This partnership will enable the Eagle Condor Council to mitigate its carbon footprint for travel, and energy costs associated with offering workshops, ceremonies, intensives and other training programs. We are challenging all ECC participants and collaborators, as well as like-minded organizations to offset your personal energy use at home and as part of their earth honoring work.

The mission of Carbon Offsets To Alleviate Poverty (COTAP) is to empower individuals and organizations in developed countries to address both climate change and global poverty. COTAP counteracts your carbon emissions through certified forestry projects in least-developed regions which create transparent, accountable, and life-changing earnings for rural farming communities where income levels are less than $2 per day.

Small-scale community focused tree planting and agro-forestry programs have a proven track record of reaching such communities and for creating direct, significant, verifiable and lasting economic benefits for them. One of the most compelling ways to finance such activities is through the sale of carbon credits. COTAP makes individuals in developed countries aware of the poverty-alleviating power of forestry carbon projects, and offers forestry carbon credits to individuals in small amounts and as a tax-deductible donation.

One ton of carbon offset cost only $9.90. COTAP retains a modest and fully transparent 10% of that amount and the remainder is passed on to our projects. For example, COTAP pays a project $9 and keeps $.90 for its nonprofit earned income. For any COTAP offset project/amount, this means that 90.9% goes to the project(s) and 9.1% goes to COTAP to cover organizational expenses.

ECC has a dedicated page on the COTAP website where our community members as well as their family and friends will be able to make donations to offset their carbon footprints. On this page tracks the tons of carbon the ECC community has offset. This page has a carbon calculator to make it easy to determine the amount of carbon your activities generate. For example:

• Driving 5000 miles @ 30mpg = 1.5 tons carbon x $9.90 = $14.85

• One round trip air – LA to NYC = 2 tons carbon = $19.80

• Average NC household elec. usage for 1yr. = 7.5 tons carbon = $74.25

This is a small price for offsetting our carbon footprint and helping to protect Pachamama. Let’s all honor our Earth Mother with this simple Ayni exchange.

Donate now! Our collective carbon footprint reduction will be tracked!

The link to our ECC personal COTAP Webpage is https://cotap.org/ecc/