The land of the 17,000-strong indigenous Chachi community in the high cloud forests of the Choco region of Ecuador is under duress while the local culture, traditions and wisdom of the Chachi people and their language Cha’palaa are equally at risk. Working with the local community leaders and leading conservation group, the Jocotoco Conservation Foundation, this project is designed to protect and celebrate the traditional dance, music and textiles of the Chachi community. Fast disappearing and with the remaining elders who know the songs, dances, instruments and stories getting ever more frail, we will support the documentation and teaching of these techniques so that they are passed to the next generation and protected into the future. As part of this, we will hire music and dance masters and instrument and textiles makers for a 6 month period to do workshops to train young people (200 in music and 300 in dance) and to help safeguard their precious ancestral knowledge. Around 125 traditional costumes will also be made.