On October 1st 1998, we will embark on a 2.5 year o 6000 mile, low impact, completely self-sustained, traction kite-powered sea kayak expedition from Baja-California to the Darien Gap rainforest of Panama. Our intentions are to explore, learn from and document the lifestyles and homelands of the last remaining indigenous tribes in Central America. We both have experience as guides, photo-journalists, and teachers yet we go as students. On topics ranging from wilderness survival skills and medicinal plants to social and environmental issues, we look forward to sharing with you images, impressions and insights.
Sea Kayak from California to Columbia:
The main goal of this expedition is to learn and write about the Aboriginal skills and medicinal plants used by the native peoples (Seri, Lacandon Mayans, Garifuna, Miskitos, Pech, Sumu, Rama, Guaymi, Choco, Kuna, etc.). The lifestyles and skills of indigenous peoples are one of the keys to the preservation of our earth's precious eco-systems. Minimizing our impact upon them, we will learn how to live from the land and the sea to become self-sufficient ourselves. We will document those skills, their lifestyles and the influence of development on their environments and lives. We will use a variety of media to send a strong message that will sensitize the people following our progress to humanitarian, and environmental and cultural preservation issues.
(For additional information, we invite you to read our document "Indigenous Peoples").
It is our intention to share our experiences by:
‡ Writing a book narrating the details of this
voyage.
‡ Writing a book about Indigenous Skills used by native
people.
‡ Writing articles for magazines.
‡ Producing a
slide show.
‡ Maintaining an Internet Web site to show the progress of
this expedition.
‡ Inviting TV programs and newspapers to feature our
expedition.
Because it offers one of the best low impact ways to penetrate untouched
jungles via their waterways and approach nature and its inhabitants without
disturbing them. It will facilitate our interaction with indigenous people.
We won't come as high-tech tourists, but like them, as people living from
the land and sea.
Sea kayaking yes, but not only paddling! Sea
kayaking using a kite for traction.
To cover long distances, we will
use a kite designed specifically for water. It will be the first time that
such an expedition in Central America will use a kite as a traction device.
By using this system, we hope to promote interest in using and developing more transportation modes that are non destructive to the environment. (Some natives
have recently started to use motorboats. In addition to being detrimental to
their environment, the original cost of purchase and the continual costs of
maintenance and operations are creating financial pressures non existent in
the past. Using a kite could offer a good, cheap and environmentally safe
alternative.
Baja: Next to the island of Tiburon
live the last remaining Seri Indians. The Seris have legendary survival
skills with an. extensive knowledge of the sea and desert which we will
study and use to subsist with a minimum of supplies from villages along the 2000 mile paddle south on the Sea of Cortez.
Baja also supports an array
of marine life such as killer whales and whale sharks, and is the only place
in the world (El Bajo) where thousands of hammerhead sharks congregate on winter nights.
Rio Ucumacinta: The Lacandon Mayans, who call
themselves Hawch Winik, "The True Men". They are the oldest
inhabitants of the rain forest and until the 40s, had been living there with
almost no contact with "The Invisibles" (the rest of humanity).
Yukatan Peninsula: Rio Lagartos Nature Reserve has one
of the largest colonies of wild Pink Flamingos. Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
is a World Heritage Site.
The Garifuna people have kept their traditions and still live from the
sea.
In Belize (United Nations proposed World Heritage Site for its
coral reef), we will meet the Garifuna and learn their fishing techniques.
We will be sea nomads, continuously moving along the reef.
La Moskitia: La Moskitia (or the
Mosquito Coast in English) is one of the most unknown and unexplored jungles
of Latin America.
This jungle is home to the Pech, Miskito and Sumu
Indians. The indigenous Garifuna live on its coast.
This rainforest
is also home to amazing wildlife including the endangered Tapir and Jaguar (the rare black Jaguar can also be seen in and around the Rio Platano Biosphere).
The Rio Platano Biosphere has been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The possibilities for kayaking up rivers and into lagoons are unlimited.
I'm regularly advised by my friend Derek A.
Parent, an esteemed authority on la Moskitia in Honduras.
Kayaking the full length of the Caribbean coast of Honduras from Guatemala to
Nicaragua has never been done, and the frequent rough seas during the rainy
season will be a daunting obstacle.
The Honduran part of this trip
by itself (ocean and jungle rivers) should be a very challenging and
fulfilling adventure (going up rivers into deep jungles to share the lifestyle of Miskitos, Pech and Sumu indians). It promises to be one of the
highlights of the entire expedition.
La Moskitia: This section of the coast will, in addition to previously mentioned perils, be quite dangerous due to the political situation. As it is uncharted territory for tourists and outsiders, there is no information or back-up infrastructure available. This first North-South kayak crossing of the full length of Nicaragua will be the ultimate in terms of challenge and discovery. With long stretches of wilderness (~500 km between the Honduran border and the city of Bluefields), we will have to be completely self-sufficient to cover the long distances separating villages. We will have to limit travel to daylight and discretely set up camps out of sight. In spite of the potential danger of this area, the undisturbed nature and fascinating people will make the trip worthwhile.
Rio San Juan & Lake Nicaragua: The San Juan river flows 200 km through virtually uninhabited jungles from Lake Nicaragua on the west coast all the way to the Caribbean. Paddling this river from the Atlantic coast to the lake will offer spectacular jungle scenery. Lake Nicaragua (largest lake in Central America) is home to one of the only known species of fresh water shark.
World renowned as a birdwatching paradise and home to some of the largest sea turtle hatching grounds, this country offers amazing national parks and wilderness preserves. In spite of its fame, difficult access has allowed for the continued existence of many pristine places. We plan to explore the following wilderness parks and reserves: Barra del Colorado, Tortuguero, Cano Negro, Las Baulas de Guanacaste, Ostional, Corcovado. We also plan to go up the following rivers: Rio Frio, Rio Liberia, Rio Tenorio and Laguna Corcovado.
We will leave our kayaks for a few weeks to meet the most insular tribe in Costa Rica, the Cabecar Indians, who live in the protected and secluded Talamanca-Cabecar Reserve.
The Darien Gap: This impenetrable strip of land linking Central and South America is dense rain forest and home to the native Choco and Kuna indians (and hideout for drug traffickers and Colombian guerrillas). The jungles of Darien are still largely unexplored.
Our focus in Panama will be on kayaking the main rivers of Darien and some of their tributaries (Chucunaque, Sambu, Tuira, and Balsas). On the shores of those rivers lie many Choco Indian villages. The Choco indians are comprised of the culturally distinct Embera and Wounaan. They are on intimate terms with the jungle in which they hunt with blowguns and poison darts. We will spend a few months with the Choco Indians in one of Central America's last untouched wildernesses. Documenting the importance of this specific eco-system will help in bringing a deeper understanding of the future impact of the planned Pan American Highway. We are being supported by RaÏl Arias de Para, one of the highest esteemed authority in his country.
We are grateful for continous support from RaÏl Arias de Para, a former Panama National Assembly member, and a highly esteemed authority on human rights, indigenous peoples and environmental issues.
Archipelago de San Blas: Chain of 365 islands off the Caribbean coast. These islands are home to the Kuna indians, the most sophisticated, independent and politically organized of Panama's three main indigenous groups. We will document how they have been able to preserve their cultural heritage and natural resources while opening their world to controlled tourism.
Includes the following: Route; Participants' Profiles; Potential Risks
& Problems; Equipment, Indigenous
Peoples. You can also Follow our
Expedition.
We encourage everybody concerned about environmental and
Indigenous peoples' issues to read our document "Indigenous
Peoples". In it, we thoroughly discuss topics ranging from the
threats they face, the importance of cultural preservation, our motives,
intentions and impact, some ways you can help them, and how our expedition
will be involved in supporting their cause.
Thank you for your
interest and support.
If you would like to know more about this
expedition or follow our progress, please visit our website at:
Web: http://www.voicenet.co.jp/~jeanphi/caske2000.htm
or contact:CASKE 2000
C/0 Jean-Philippe
Soul³
Kita 22 Jo, Higashi 1 Chome, 3-29 # 202,
Higashi-ku,
Sapporo, Hokkaido 065, JAPAN
Fax: 81 - 11 - 751 - 5698
Email:
jeanphi@voicenet.co.jp
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