Amazonas Medical River Boat

I had the unique opportunity and privilege to be part of the incredible humanitarian medical team this month, participating and sharing with the Quilombo communities their strengths and problems. I just got back, exhausted yet exhilarated! What a life moving experience for me! I will not editorialize in this blog but merely share my Amazon experiences about the Quilombo people. Often native people are the forgotten ones when issues arise for political or economic reasons. Today the Amazon is a point of interest to the world at large – important for resources, for consequences of the environment, of global warming, etc. But here is some information I will share with you about the people, the most valuable resource, no?
No body can tell me for sure but I believe that the origin of the Quilombo people of the Rio Trompetas is that hey were escaped slaves from Santarem and Manaus in the late 1800’s during the cane sugar, rubber and/or gold rush times. They got as far away as possible. Indeed it took us a 24 hour riverboat ride from Santarem to reach these communities.