Introduction-- International Liaison
My name is Maya Liester, and I am a medical student in the United States pursuing a career in primary care with a focus on Lifestyle Medicine. I am passionate about preventing disease and improving my community’s health through lifestyle changes. One of the six core tenets of Lifestyle Medicine is social well-being — the idea that individual health depends on meaningful connections with our friends, family, and community. I extend this concept of social health to the global community, including my dear friends in Imbabura, Ecuador.
Ecuador holds a special place in my heart. My parents met there, I grew up considering Quechua friends to be my second family, and in 2023, I was fortunate enough to spend three weeks living in Ilumán Bajo. The 70-year-old woman who hosted me, whom I lovingly call Mamacita, is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met. She spends her days cooking for her neighbors, feeding her chickens leftover potato peels, sharing bones with street dogs, and walking through her beautiful Andean town. During my visit, the town leader and local shaman, Rafael Carrascal, taught me about traditional plant medicine, the role of healers in community leadership, and the importance of sacred sites — one of which once held a revered tree that outsiders sadly cut down.
The Quechua people of Ilumán and greater Imbabura have endured generations of cultural oppression, yet everyone I met radiated pride in their heritage. I learned about artisan jewelry making, traditional hat craftsmanship, and Minga — a community system where residents gather monthly to repair roads, build communal spaces, and support elders like Mamacita. During my stay, Rafael encouraged me to visit Radio Ilumán, the town’s cultural hub that shared local musicians, cultural history, and educational programs. On October 19, 2025, the Ecuadorian government ordered its closure, silencing a vital voice for the Quechua people — just five days after a devastating military assault on the communities of Ilumán and Otavalo.
The same people who once welcomed me now live in fear, stripped of their rights to free speech, peaceful protest, and healthcare. Bombings, chemical weapons, and unlawful detentions have devastated these towns. Rafael’s daughter, Manahi, a physical therapist and respected community leader, has shared the photos and videos displayed on this website. She works alongside volunteer doctors, dentists, and psychologists in La Brigada 14 de Octubre, a group dedicated to restoring health and dignity to their neighbors.
When I first saw these images, I felt overwhelmed with anger, grief, and helplessness — watching from afar as my friends suffered for simply being who they are. But one of my Quechua friends reminded me that many victims are still unable to work and cannot afford necessities like food and electricity. That realization helped me understand there is something I can do — and that the international community can do, too.
All donations collected through this website will go directly to Manahi’s brigade, funding medical care, food, and housing for those recovering from the October 14th attacks. If you cannot give financially, you can still help by learning about these events, sharing this story, and speaking out against the persecution of Indigenous peoples. Together, we can stand in solidarity with the Quechua people of Imbabura as t