Obstacles have included language differences, a lack of access to information and government plans, and a lack of comprehension by the government about the indigenous way of life. An example of those problems occurred two years ago, after the indigenous community lost its crops to a flood. But the seeds were genetically modified and required the use of chemical fertilizer, which differed from traditional cultivation practices. The result was we lost 80 percent of the harvest. To help regain control of their territory, the indigenous people are taking inventory of their resources, such as the total size of the land, amount of forested land, amount of food produced locally and the potential for growing more food.
Food security is a top priority.
The five-year goal is to have each family grow enough food for itself and to teach the young to use traditional forms of agriculture. The Board of Global Ministries currently has a Global Justice Volunteer, Mary Miller of Wisconsin, placed with Ixacavaa in Costa Rica.