Rama, an endareged language

The last week during the  week of Autonomus Regions of Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua, there was a projection of a documentary related two ethnic groups in this area of Nicaragua, it’s named “Images of my territory: Ramas and Krioles”. In this documentary Ramas and Krioles come together to share images through their traditions, forms of government, its natural beauty and unique way, the struggle to live every day to preserve their land and their cultural heritage. I highly recommend this film.

It was the first time that I heard about language Rama and its problem. Rama is the language of Rama´s Ethnic group. The language of this indigenous are in serious risk of disappearing, because is a community very abandoned, there isn’t hospital and there is only one school. Nowadays, there are only 1300 descendants of this Etna, 900 of them settled on The Island Rama Cay, which is their capital, it is located on the south coast of the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua. It is one of eight islands that make up the tiny archipelago bearing the name of Rama, guava, Masan, Cualapa, Cucu, Uariu, Phillies and Bryan. Their culture is disappearing, as the same way their traditions are replaced by other languages and others lifestyles, but poverty steals remain in this region..

One of the main danger for them is the Interoceanic Canal of Nicaragua, which official route projected to cross Rama´s communities by being the ancestral land of the indigenous people of Nicaragua. If this happens, they will not be able to keep their traditions because they will remain separated from each other.

Nowadays, Human being is doing not just break the biological diversity in the world, we are doing away cultures and languages that can recover anymore.

There is one request on Avaaz.org, to support the Rama and Kriol communities. http://www.avaaz.org/es/petition/Presidente_de_Nicaragua_Comandante_Daniel_Ortega_Saavedra_Que_no_destruya_la_comunidad_indigena_de_Bangkukuk_TaikPunta_d/

By Loli Piqueras.