Cited by 0Indigenous Studies in Latin AmericaIndigenous Cultures and HistoryLanguage and Culture

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 7 of the 7 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 24 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Getting to know the Awá Tikal Nationality in Ecuador, cultural and linguistic aspects

Open access
Obando Arroyo, José Miguel·2024·Tierra Infinita

Abstract

The Awá is one of the fourteen indigenous nationalities that currently live in Ecuadorian territory. Their myths, legends, language and more cultural manifestations, as well as their lifestyle, strongly connect these people to the jungle, the place where they live, from where they get their food and the place that they protect. This document study attempted to determine the themes and ranges of previous research about the cultural features and language of the Awá Nationality in Ecuador. The reviewed works corresponded to publications between 2001 up to 2023. The accounts evidenced that the information published describe, analyze and discuss the situation of the Awá Nationality in Ecuador in aspects like their origin, the region where they live, how they are organized and their culture, including the myth of their origin legends and the language which is in endangered.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This bibliographic review synthesizes research published between 2001 and 2023 on the Awá Tikal nationality in Ecuador, covering their origins, territory, legal organization, culture, and language. It finds that the Awá are a cross-border people whose awapit language is endangered, with strong cultural ties to the jungle but sparse and uneven documentation of their current situation.

Key findings

  • The Awá Tikal are a cross-border nationality living in the southwestern jungle of Colombia and northwestern jungle of Ecuador; they arrived in Ecuador approximately 80 years ago and now live in four northern provinces: Esmeraldas, Carchi, Imbabura and Sucumbíos.
  • Population figures vary over time: the 2001 INEC census recorded 3,283 Awá (reported as 3,286 in the synthesis); Care Project Ecuador (2014) reported 3,500 distributed across 22 communities (1,000 in Esmeraldas, 2,000 in Carchi, 500 in Imbabura); by 2021 the figure was approximately 8,000 (La Hora, 2021), and the review expects the number to easily reach 10,000 given 24 communities.
  • Internally they recognize 24 Awá communities, though only 22 are legally recognized; the two in Sucumbíos are in the process of legal recognition. Since 1986 they hold annual assemblies through the Federación de Centros Awá del Ecuador.
  • Awapit (also called Coaiquer or Kwaiker) is classified within the Barbacoan language family and is considered endangered. It is agglutinating, and is described as the only language in Ecuador—and one of few in the world—with voiceless vowels carrying phonemic value; it also has a conjunctive–disjunctive suffix system for person. San Marcos (Carchi) has the highest percentage of speakers, while in "El Baboso" only eight members use awapit sporadically, mostly middle-aged and without formal instruction in it.

Methods

  • Design: a bibliographic/documentary literature review using the inductive method of document selection, following steps of writing research questions, identifying key words, selecting sources, evaluation, and findings extraction (Briner & David, 2012; Hallinger, 2013).
  • Data: searches conducted in Google Scholar using the key words "Awá Nationality in Ecuador," covering publications from 2001 to 2022/2023. Included sources were thirteen articles, one book, two theses and a booklet (articles from 2007–2020; book 2009; thesis 2013; booklet 2017), plus maps and reports from governmental and international organizations.
  • Analysis: thematic synthesis of the reviewed literature on origins, region, legal organization, culture (myths, legends, cosmovision) and language.

Limitations

  • Stated by the paper: no works published between 2001 and 2004 on Awá culture and language were found; works published before 2001 were excluded by the selection criteria; there is no current official data on the Awá population, and no INEC data published in the last two years; the paper notes a "lack of interest in assessing the state of their language endangerment."
  • Evident from the text: population estimates rely on mixed and non-official sources (census, NGO figures, newspaper reports, oral accounts), and the review itself notes there is "no coincidence among the data regarding its origin," with competing claims (Tumaco culture vs. CONAIE's account of Maya descent). The search was limited to a single database (Google Scholar) and one keyword phrase, and the paper reports no formal quality appraisal of the included sources.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.32645/26028131.1311

Cites

7 of 7 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

0 of 24 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingcitation

    The 2001 census established that 3,283 Awá lived in the 22 provinces of Ecuador.

    “The results of the 2001 census conducted by Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) established that 3.283 Awá lived in the, at that time, 22 provinces of Ecuador (Chisaguano, 2006).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Chisaguano, 2006

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Findingcitation

    The community of San Marcos in Carchi has the highest percentage of awapit speakers.

    “As for the center where awapit is used for most interactions, the community of San Marcos in the province of Carchi, has the higher percentage of speakers (Gómez, 2010)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Gómez, 2010

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Findingown data

    Studies, books and theses published between 2001 and 2022 about the Awá present information about their history, arrival to Ecuador, current legal situation, agreements between Awá communities in Colombia and Ecuador, their culture and their language.

    “In Ecuador, the themes and ranges of the studies, books and theses published between 2001 and 2022 related of the Awá present information about their history, their arrival to Ecuador and current legal situation, the agreements between the Awá communities settled in Colombia and those settled in Ecuador, their culture and their language.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The Google Scholar search with the keyword 'Awá Nationality in Ecuador' and the selected documents are comprehensive enough to represent all relevant literature on Awá culture and language in Ecuador.
  • Findingcitation

    By 2021, the number of Awá living in Ecuador was approximately 8,000.

    “By the year 2021, the number of Awá living in Ecuador was of 8000 approximately (La Hora, 2021).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites La Hora, 2021

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Findingown data

    From 2007 to 2020 there have been several studies conducted in Ecuador and Colombia about the Awá community.

    “From 2007 on and up to 2020 there have been several studies conducted in Ecuador and Colombia about the Awá community.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The Google Scholar search with the keyword 'Awá Nationality in Ecuador' and the selected documents are comprehensive enough to represent all relevant literature on Awá culture and language in Ecuador.
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 17
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 9
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingcitation

    Awapit has a system of conjunctive-disjunctive suffixes for person: conjunctive for first person in statements and second in questions, disjunctive for second and third person in statements and third in questions.

    “Morphologically, this language has a system of conjunctive -disjunctive suffixes as for the case of the person, where a conjunctive morpheme uses the first person in statements and the second in questions.The disjunctive is used for second and third person in statements and third in questions (Curnow & Liddicoat, 1998).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Curnow & Liddicoat, 1998

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingcitation

    Awapit is the only language in Ecuador and one of the few in the world with voiceless vowels that have phonemic value.

    “Phonetically, it is the only language in Ecuador and one of the few in the world that has voiceless vowels with a phonemic value.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Gómez, 2010

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingcitation

    In 2014, there were 3,500 Awá living in Ecuador, distributed in 22 communities in three provinces: 1,000 in Esmeraldas, 2,000 in Carchi, and 500 in Imbabura.

    “Data published by Care Project Ecuador in 2014 stated that there are 3500 Awá living in Ecuador distributed in 22 communities in three provinces namely: 1000 in Esmeraldas, 2000 in Carchi and 500 in Imbabura.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Care Project Ecuador, 2014

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingnone given

    The situation of awapit in Ecuador is critical, unlike in Colombia.

    “As the situation of the awapit in Ecuador is critical, not the same situation in Colombia, it is recommended that new researches are conducted to identify the centers where the language has almost disappeared to generate proposals oriented to re -vitalize it.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingnone given

    The reviewed literature indicates that the Awá came from Central America and settled in Colombia, from where they emigrated to Ecuador.

    “The accounts suggested that this community came from Central America and settled in Colombia from where emigrated to Ecuador.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingcitation

    The Awá have a myth of origin in which the first man, Atim Awá, was born from a tree and could talk with trees.

    “In the beginning, the world was just inhabited by trees.The dense jungle was by everywhere.One day, from a tree (ti), it began to come out a black”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Arcos, 2013

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Findingnone given

    The Awá Tikal approximately arrived in Ecuador 80 years ago.

    “Encapsulating, the reviewed literature gives account that the Awá Tikal approximately arrived in Ecuador 80 years ago.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingcitation

    Awapit is partly learned through the formal education system and is practiced in family and community contexts.

    “The awapit is partly learned through the formal education system and is practiced in family and community contexts (Gómez, 2010).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Gómez, 2010

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingcitation

    There are 24 Awá communities in Ecuador, of which 22 are legally recognized; the remaining two are in Sucumbios and in the process of legal recognition.

    “Since 1986, this nationality celebrates annual assemblies with the participation of representatives of the 24 Awá centers who currently live in Ecuadorian territory, even though there are only 22 legally recognized -The remaining two are settled in Sucumbios are in the process of being legally recognized (Huanga, 2022).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Huanga, 2022

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingcitation

    The Awá Tikal cosmovision includes a circular conception and a vertical conception of four worlds.

    “In the world of the Awá Tikal, it can be found two ways to conceive the cosmos namely a circular and vertical.”
    • Also stated in: § Cosmovision · plain
      “The second one, a vertical vision of four worlds:”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Arcos R., 2013

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Findingown data

    The review included thirteen articles, one book, two theses and a booklet on the Awá published between 2007 and 2000.

    “The studies included thirteen articles, one book, two theses and a booklet on the Awá published between 2007 and the year 2000.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The Google Scholar search with the keyword 'Awá Nationality in Ecuador' and the selected documents are comprehensive enough to represent all relevant literature on Awá culture and language in Ecuador.
  • It may state two separate claims as one. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    Recent visits to Awá communities evidenced a rise in the number of inhabitants; in El Baboso, Carchi, the number is 300.

    “However, recent visits to the communities evidenced that there is a rise in the number of inhabitants in the Awa communities.For example, in”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingcitation

    The Awá Tikal believe in their myths and traditions, feel one with the jungle, live off the jungle, and protect it.

    “The Awá Tikal strongly believe in their myths and traditions which make them feel that they are one with the jungle as they live off the jungle and live to protect it.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Arcos & Mora, 2012

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Findingnone given

    The Awá have a rich mythology that establishes a strong connection with the jungle.

    “They have a rich mythology that clearly stablishes a strong connection with the jungle.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingcitation

    Awapit is spoken by most members in some Awá centers, but in other places only a few speakers can be found.

    “As far as their language, awapit, even though there are some centers in which it is spoken by most of the members of the community, there are also places where just a few speakers can be found.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Gómez, 2010

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingcitation

    The Awá Tikal call themselves 'People of the mountains' in Awapit and see themselves as part of the jungle.

    “The myth of their origin”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Arcos & Mora, 2012

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingnone given

    Although there are still Awá centers in Ecuador where awapit is the dominant language, there are also Awá settlements where Spanish has become the language used quotidianly.

    “Although there are still Awá centers in Ecuador where awapit is the dominant language, there are also Awá settlements where Spanish has become the language used quotidianly.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationreasoning

    There is a contrasting situation between the strong recognition of the Awá's linkages with their surrounding environments and the lack of interest in assessing the state of their language endangerment.

    “However, there is a contrasting situation between the strong recognition of the linkages of this Indigenous Nationality with their surrounding environments and the lack of interest in assessing the state of their language endangerment.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationreasoning

    There is no current official data on the number of Awá living in Ecuador, but it is suggested that they easily exceed 10,000, distributed in 24 Awá centers in four northern provinces bordering Colombia.

    “There is no current data available about the number of Awá living in the country, but it is suggested that they easily exceed in10000 distributed in 24 Awá centers in Ecuador settled in four northern provinces in the border with Colombia, there are a few Awá disseminated throughout the country though.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The Awá Tikal's culture, myth of origin, cosmovision, current lifestyle, religious practices, beliefs and language are connected to the jungle, their origin and end.

    “As for their culture, the myth of their origin, their cosmovision, current lifestyle, religious practices, beliefs and their language, everything is connected to the jungle, their origin and end.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisecitation

    The displacement of tongues goes hand in hand with inequity situations and their social and political effects.

    “The displacement of the tongues goes hand in hand with inequity situations and its social and political effects (Haboud, 2019).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Haboud, 2019 source

      Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.

    Premisecitation

    There is a need for more effective interventions from the viewpoint of modern and participative communication.

    “The need of more effective interventions from the viewpoint of modern and participative communication (Ávalos & Culqui, 2020).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Ávalos & Culqui, 2020

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisecitation

    Awapit is classified as part of the Barbacoan language family.

    “Linguistically, the awapit, the language spoken by the Awá also known as Coaiquer or Kwaiker, since the studies conducted by Beuchat & Rivet in 1910, it is usually classified a part of the family of the Barbacoan languages (Gómez, 2010).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Gómez, 2010

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

23 of 23
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The Google Scholar search with the keyword 'Awá Nationality in Ecuador' and the selected documents are comprehensive enough to represent all relevant literature on Awá culture and language in Ecuador.

    “Information search was conducted in Google Scholar.The key words used to conduct the search were: Awá Nationality in Ecuador.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The oral accounts and recent visits provide reliable estimates of Awá population.

    “Oral accounts collected by the researchers among habitants of some Awá communities of Carchi suggest that in big communities like San Marcos there are around 3000 people (Huanga, 2022).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The reviewed literature is sufficient to describe the current situation of Awá culture and language.

    “This document study collected data from research for the period between 2001 and 2022 about the situation of the Awá, their culture and language in Ecuador.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The sizes of Awá communities are similar enough that the total population can be estimated from the number of communities.

    “considering that currently there are 24 Awa communities in Ecuador, it is expected that the number of Awá easily reaches 10000 inhabitants.”
4 of 4

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Article counts total 12, not 13

    Minor

    The articles listed by publication year add up to 12, although the paper says the review included thirteen articles.

    Reported 13 · recomputed 12

  • The 2001 census count differs by three people

    Minor

    The historical section reports 3,283 Awá in the 2001 census, while the synthesis reports 3,286.

  • Review periods end in different years

    Minor

    The abstract says the review covered works published through 2023, but the methods say it collected research through 2022.

  • Stated publication range excludes a listed article

    Minor

    The methods describe the included works as published between 2007 and 2000, yet the next sentence lists an article published in 2020.

4 of 4

Citations

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Systematic Review and Evidence Synthesis as a Practice and Scholarship Tool. (s.f.). En R. B. Denyer, Systematic Review and Evidence Synthesis as a Practice and Scholarship Tool. London.

Cited by

Still being checked.

Metadata

Authors
Obando Arroyo, J. M.
Affiliations
Universidad Técnica del Norte
Venue
Tierra Infinita
Published
2024-12-24
Volume
10
Issue
1
Pages
143-152
ISSN
  • 2602-8131 (ISSN-L)
  • 2631-2921
OpenAlex
W4406155692
Cited by
0
References
7
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
Tierra Infinita (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Cultural Studies › Indigenous Studies in Latin America
  • Social Sciences › Anthropology › Indigenous Cultures and History
  • Social Sciences › Linguistics and Language › Language and Culture
Keywords
Awá people, indigenous nationalities, indigenous culture, indigenous languages, endangered languages, myths and legends, creation myths, lifestyle, Amazonian indigenous peoples, Ecuador

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