On February 16th, UPS and the Abya Yala museum organized a cultural event, a cinema forum titled "Pescadores del Mar Verde". This event is part of the "Discover the Amazon in Quito" project which seeks to get society closer to cultural, anthropological and ecological diversity in the Latin American region.

The movie shows the customs and the traditions of the Shuar community and its relationship with the salesian missions and the internship of the daughters of Maria Auxiliadora in this part of the country during the 60's. It shows the work done by the missionaries in the Shuar community of Morona Santiago.

"Pescadores del mar verde" tells the story of Pedro, a jibaro boy who studies the missions of Kuchantsa and Bomboiza, he is then invited to join the community. During his time in the salesian internship he works in the field, get education and learns about the gospel.

The forum began right after watching the movie; the speakers were Juan Bottasso, director of the Salesian Archive; Jose Juncosa, vice president of the university's branch in Quito; and Sister Kintianua Petsain, representative of the Shuar community.

Father Juan Bottasso spoke about the internships as places that made a difference and provided change in the lives of boys and girls from the Shuar community. "It's not about the mission that protects, it's about the Shuar community that assumes the political management of its present and future through preparation and education in salesian internships", he said.

Juncosa said "the Shuar asked missionaries to take their kids so that they could learn how to write. People's project was to civilize, educate and evangelize. They were interested in education in order to protect themselves from colonizers."

For sister Petsain living in this part of the country has been a positive experience which she is very grateful for, she has become a promoter of rescuing this culture. "Salesian missions have a long way to go, especially for integrally educating women within a patriarchal culture", she said.

The Ecuadorian Dance group from the university's branch campus in Quito closed the event by presenting a choreography titled "Ayumpum – Arutum", a dance which represents the ancestral customs of the Shuar.