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Stand as Tall as the Trees

How an Amazonian Community Protected the Rainforest

Elementary

Description

Mamita and Papito teach young Paty that she must always honour the spiritual Amazanga by protecting the Ecuadorian rainforest that provides so much for their family.  While away at school, Paty learns that the place she calls home is threatened by oil excavation so she returns to help her village fight against the government corruption that values money over humanity.  This true account describes how Patricia Gualinga became an environmental and social activist who has worked with Kichwa communities to defend their right to continue as stewards of their own land.  The rythmic text and vibrant illustrations teach young readers about the invaluable cultural and ecological significance of the Amazon rainforest and how each us can become active participants in conserving Earth's amazing biodiversity.

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

This personal narrative of how Patricia Gualinga's deep connections to the Amazon developed into a passion for defending the rainforest and the Indigenous communities that live there supports Grade K-4 Social Studies concepts related to global human rights issues, environmental responsibility and social justice.  The book also includes a section that describes how other Aboriginal people around the world have been fighting to protect their land.  The simple text and a glossary of Kichwa words, with a pronunciation guide, develops English Language Arts reading and vocabulary skills.

Many common household items such as coffee and chocolate originate in rainforests.  A class might develop a "Find the Frog" community awareness project that promotes the purchase of sustainably sourced products.  Students could create a display of locally available Rainforest Alliance Certified items with facts about the environmental values of tropical rainforest ecosystems.  Canadian information can be found on the Rainforest Alliance website where pupils can search by country.

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Themes Addressed

Ecosystems (1)

  • Biodiversity

Human Rights (2)

  • Environmental Racism/Justice
  • Social Justice

Indigenous Knowledge (1)

  • Rituals, Spirituality and Worldviews

Land Use & Natural Resources (1)

  • Forests

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