El Dorado – Ohithere G

Ambassador: Grace Shisler.39
Chris Johnson

Will Mather
Brady Motter
Molly Mraz

       El Dorado is home to a tribe of native people that were originally blessed with many natural resources and beautiful tropical forests. The tribe historically lived off the land; the lush rainforest provided their food, timber, and medicine. The tribe valued the forest with high respect, as it supported them for hundreds of years. El Dorado is also located on a land rich in mineral deposits like gold and copper. The gold harvested by the natives was used to make beautiful pottery that depicted traditional tribal lore and beliefs. Adobe homes were traditionally built with help from all community members. The community previously never had any formal school system, but instead taught each other skills such as hunting, gardening, and pottery making. The tribe has rooted beliefs in civic leadership and identity in the community, but had no proper political institutions. The tribe developed a highly close-knit social network, with strong cultural and environmental beliefs.
       When other communities discovered the wealth of natural resources in El Dorado, mining companies quickly moved in to extract mineral deposits. Non-local companies bought much of the native tribal land while the tribe helplessly watched as their natural capital was degraded. Fortunately, national governments recognized the existing natural capital and established a national park. Although this helped maintain some of El Dorado’s resources, mining companies continue to extract the land outside the national park, and illegal resource extraction still occurs within the park.
       The introduction of non-native people to the previously isolated community had a large scope of effects for the people of El Dorado. Mining workers began to move in build homes from cheap, externally manufactured materials. They were introduced to new technologies and luxuries that altered their perspective of wealth. The mining companies built an unpaved road that runs directly through the community, but is poorly managed. The community receives a small amount of funding from national government taxes on mining industries, but the finances are not used efficiently to benefit the impoverished native people. Their financial capital fell as they lost claim of the land from where they obtained natural resources, which further divided the gap between rich and poor. The lower income native residents felt resentful towards the wealthier non-native newcomers who extracted their gold, copper, and timber. They sought to drive out the larger mining companies, but their political representation is limited, and many are distrustful of newly established local government institutions.
       Native El Doradoans want to see the removal of the mining companies that are destroying sacred land and poisoning the environment. Many residents would also like to see funding to allow for the development of small businesses, which coax curious travelers. A few television programs were hosted in El Dorado highlighting their traditional artisan pottery. Many residents view this as a promising gateway to start a tourism industry.

Community G: This rural community lags significantly behind other rural communities in the nation in terms of infrastructural and human capital assets; it has a legacy of resource extraction with poor environmental management.

Population size = 65,000 residents.

Natural: 6 This community is located near massive mineral (copper, gold) deposits, as well as old growth forests (on and surrounding the National Park). However, these resources have been exploited over many generations primarily by non-local corporations who are the primary landowners in the community (especially by one prominent manufacturer based in community D).

Cultural: 7 It is the home to an ethnic group known for world-class arts and crafts products and their cultural symbols and identity are closely tied to this heritage. Some of these crafts are retrieved from the natural environment. This community has been the location for several nationally-recognized, anthropological research studies and television programs.

Human: 2 Residents have low formal educational opportunities and attainment. Many entrepreneurial and ambitious residents feel they must leave the community to find professional opportunities. Some residents are illegally harvesting natural resources from the National Park. School systems are drastically underfunded.

Social: 5 Distinct, but close-knit family groups who are organized through a few very powerful bridging organizations, including one external non-profit organization and one faith-based organization. Major business leaders are not involved in the same associations as poorer community residents. Language barriers, in part due to low education among poorest residents, are leading to communication problems.

Political: 3 The transfer of funds to this community’s local government from the national government and from taxes paid by the extractive industries is perceived by local residents to be squandered. Individual citizens have strong non-governmental, “civic leadership” (volunteerism), but view local government as corrupt and “bought” by private interests.

Financial: 2 Residents generally lack the capital to finance new businesses and other development efforts. There is growing interest in selling/leasing community-owned land to development and extraction, alongside increased interest in the sales of small craft and artisanal goods. Distant corporations and other for-profit companies pay little to no taxes on their operations in and around the community.

Built: 2 Traditionally, infrastructure was developed using local materials and knowledge, however outside entities have introduced lower cost, externally-manufactured materials. The unpaved road that leads outside the community was constructed by a private company, the local government lacks authority or funds to maintain the road. A school set up by previous volunteers is in failing condition and healthcare facilities are needed.