Human Faces Behind the Rainforest

Description: Documents the testimonies of indigenous people fighting against the social chaos caused by drugs in Colombia. HUMAN FACES BEHIND THE RAIN FOREST documents the dramatic opium poppy harvest in the Colombian rainforest through the experiences of indigenous peoples living there. Although social and economic conditions forced many of Colombia's indigenous communities into poppy production, in their own words they describe the social collapse associated with the illegal crop, from rampant alcoholism to chronic violence. But several organizations are fighting these trends, like the Paez' Corporation for the Native Indian Women of Mama Wala, founded by Maria Lastenia Pito. In spite of death threats, she continues to fight for the eradication of the poppy flower. At the Quinteros Fish Farm, the Paez have progressively abandoned poppy production in favor of the lucrative fish production. And at a community meeting on the reservation of the Yanaconas Indians, the first definitive steps are being taken to end production of the illegal crop after years of bloodshed and turmoil.