The unique and developing history
of the Nivaclé communities
descending from Mistolar
April 2009 Drought The rainy season brought precious little rain this year, particularly in Mistolar. Brutal temperatures and the lack of rain ruined the harvest there and throughout the Chaco. So now at the beginning of the long dry season, water and food supplies are already starting out low. The usual avenues of humanitarian aid are being blocked by political problems; the Paraguayan government is new, and the department of Indian affairs (INDI) remains paralyzed without a leader. Last year's drought in the Chaco was declared a regional disaster, but this year is threatening to be much worse. District Presidency The district leadership was reorganized in last month's conference in La Abundancia. The new district president is Mariano Flores (son of Walter Flores). His counselors are Roman Charlo and Francisco Villalba. November 2008 October 2008
Video from last month's trip to the Chaco is now available... September 2008 Ed Soper (of the Nivaclé Foundation) and Ricky Loynd made a trip to Paraguay. See the pictures here. District Conference There were 41 baptisms during the conference, including investigators from Neuland and Campo Ampú, a new colony between Mistolar & Neuland where six member families were already living. The first member family in Campo Ampú was that of Roberto Ibáñez from Mistolar.
On November 1 in Filadelfia, Walter Flores became the first representatively elected president of the entire Nivaclé people (Organización del Pueblo Nivaclé).
It’s easy to conclude from pictures of smiling, happy children that ‘all is well’ in the Chaco. This needs to be balanced by awareness of the sobering realities they face. Kurt Mayberry, president of the Nivaclé Foundation, just returned from a trip to Paraguay working on the foundation’s goal of building self-sufficiency among the Nivaclé. He has contributed photos and information to this month’s report: Temporal Situation 2008.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
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July 2008
The Semiannual Conference of the Nivaclé District was held on July 19 & 20 at the La Abundancia chapel. Attendance was high (420) including over 50 who had ridden a trailer pulled by tractor from Mistolar.
(Photos courtesy of Elder Jeffrey Oakes)
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