PATUCA, HONDURAS, April 7, 2015 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Armchair travelers, here is your chance to support an expedition into the wilds of Honduras. The beautiful lands that make up the Patuca National Forest and surrounding regions are sometimes called the Lungs of the World. There are legends about the area – including the one that surfaces periodically about a White City, supposedly the remnants of an ancient and wealthy civilization. While this legend probably has about as much truth as Cortez’ fabled cities of gold, what is true is that the region is densely populated with several groups of indigenous people. These tribes include the Mosquitias and the Tawakas.

The area is troubled with refugees from surrounding countries, and with illegal drug trade. As industry moves to the area, encroaching up on the reserves, they cut down trees and pollute the river and other water sources. This can cause illness, and diminishes the fish and other wildlife that formerly provided food.
Some of the people are nomadic, making it difficult to develop services such as medical facilities and schools.

Dylan Cassidy, a graduate of Bard College, and a group of friends are putting together a filming expedition into the region. Dylan feels a deep connection to this land. He and his group want to record the area as it is, and to make a documentary of the struggles of the people in the region. To equip and finance the trip, they have developed a Kickstarter Crowdfunding Campaign. Rewards for contribution will be either a digital download of the documentary, or a physical disk of it. Other rewards include a still picture from the film, and recognition of your contribution.

Money raised through the campaign will be used for food, medical kits (including antidotes for snake venom), protective clothing, sunscreen, machetes and tents. The group also hopes to hire a police officer or two for protection. Since the reserve is near the Nicaraguan border, there is some drug trafficking in the area.
Indigenous groups that Dylan’s expedition hope to visit include the Misquitios and the Tawanas. The group hopes to document not only the current conditions, but also the difficulties that confront these indigenous people. The Misquitios and the Tawanas represent the dilemma of indigenous people around the world. On the one hand, there is a need to preserve their ancestral homes and their traditional way of life; on the other hand, there is a need for modern medicine, education and better living conditions.

These needs, however, must be met carefully. Projects such as hydroelectric dams bring far-reaching changes to any area where they are installed; and have even greater impact in ecosystems where deforestation can lead to erosion, and waterways are a big part of the indigenous way of life.

Therefore, this is your opportunity to assist a group to document the needs of these people and to help them make a statement on their behalf. Dylan Cassidy notes that they are assembling the supplies recommended by the community of Olancho. The medical kits will include not only serum for snakebites, but also anti-inflamatory/antibiotic eye drops in case of conjunctivitis, antihistamines and sunblock. The idea is to take plenty of preventative supplies, as the travelers will be truly out of touch with civilization.

Their journey is not an easy one; and they will be traveling through some dangerous territory. Their goal is to be prepared so that no one will get hurt or ill on the trip.

Not only will they have the opportunity to talk with the people living in the area, they will also have the opportunity to film one of the few relatively untouched areas of rain forest. The footage that they bring back from that wild and marvelous world they will then share with you.

The group has already contacted guides who represent the various people they will be visiting. All that remains to make this trip a true success is a boost from you. If you cannot support the expedition monetarily, talk about it with friends – both face to face and through social media. Suggest this documentary to organizations as something that they might want to support. While monetary support is needed, being part of the publicity needed to make this indigempis survival video a success is just as important.

Dylan Cassidy
Indigenous Survival in Honduras
www.cassidyirizarry.com
email us here

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