Indigenous People’s Technology and Education Center
Encyclopedia
Indigenous People’s Technology and Education Center (I-TEC) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Christian missionary organization located in Dunnellon, Florida
. Founded by Steve Saint
, amongst its notable projects is the development of the I-Fly Maverick "flying car." The stated purpose of I-TEC is to "[enable] indigenous
churches to overcome the technological and educational hurdles that stand in the way of their independence."
, son of missionary Nate Saint
, as a result of his experiences living among the Huaorani
in the Amazon rainforest
in Ecuador
, near Shell Mera
. In 1996, 18 months after moving to the tribal village at the request of the Huaorani elders, including Mincaye
, to guide their interactions with the outside world, Saint moved back to the United States
, so as to prevent the tribe from becoming detrimentally dependent on him. Upon his return to the United States, he founded I-TEC with the ambition to develop solutions to the economic and cultural crises that the Huaorani and many other tribal cultures face, using technology that indigenous people can operate and maintain with minimal outside support. Steve Saint has worked extensively with the Huaorani and insists, “I only do what the Waodani
have asked me to do. I would just as soon they live in their old culture—without the killing. But that really isn't for me to decide. The people in the culture who have to live with the ramifications of the change are the ones who should decide.”
Under development by I-TEC, the I-Fly Maverick is designed to be an easy-to-use ground and aerial vehicle. According to Popular Mechanics
, the Maverick "looks like a dune buggy
, but one with a propeller in back like an Everglades
airboat and, billowing above, a rainbow colored flex wing … held aloft on a mast." Equipped with the largest powered parachute certified by the FAA, the Maverick received experimental aircraft
airworthiness certification on April 14th, 2008, with N-Number
356MV.
Capable of interstate
speeds on pavement, the Maverick's dune buggy-like frame of chromoly tubing gives it the ability to be used off-road. Additionally, the vehicle can deploy a parafoil
and fly as a powered parachute
. It weighs about 1100 pounds and has a useful carrying capacity equivalent to a Cessna 172
(fuel and 550 pounds cargo). With a 22-foot mast, the Maverick can take off and land in weather conditions that other powered parachutes would not be able to safely handle. Steve Saint has said he envisions the Maverick being useful to the Huaorani and other Indian groups, farmers and ranchers, pipeline
inspection crews, and anyone else needing to traverse rough, roadless ground. Popular Mechanics
gave it their Breakthrough Award in 2009.
to perform basic dental procedures using a lightweight portable dental chair, with the goal of improving dental conditions in the local Amazonian bush villages. I-TEC states that the chair has also been used in Romania
, Chad
, Patagonia
, and Burma. Founder Steve Saint states that they have a similar effort called "I-See," which aims to train indigenous corrective lenses
vendors to be self-sustaining and to increase the availability of affordable glasses in frontier and impoverished areas.
Dunnellon, Florida
Dunnellon is a city in Marion County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,898 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,951...
. Founded by Steve Saint
Steve Saint
Stephen Farris Saint is an Ecuadorian-born business entrepreneur, pilot, and author. He is known for being the son of Nate Saint, a famous missionary pilot, as well as for his own work among indigenous tribes.-Early life:...
, amongst its notable projects is the development of the I-Fly Maverick "flying car." The stated purpose of I-TEC is to "[enable] indigenous
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
churches to overcome the technological and educational hurdles that stand in the way of their independence."
History
I-TEC was founded by Steve SaintSteve Saint
Stephen Farris Saint is an Ecuadorian-born business entrepreneur, pilot, and author. He is known for being the son of Nate Saint, a famous missionary pilot, as well as for his own work among indigenous tribes.-Early life:...
, son of missionary Nate Saint
Nate Saint
Nathanael "Nate" Saint was an evangelical Christian missionary pilot to Ecuador who, along with four others, was killed while attempting to evangelize the Waodani people through efforts known as Operation Auca....
, as a result of his experiences living among the Huaorani
Huaorani
The Huaorani, Waorani or Waodani, also known as the Waos, are native Amerindians from the Amazonian Region of Ecuador who have marked differences from other ethnic groups from Ecuador. The alternate name Auca is a pejorative exonym used by the neighboring Quechua Indians, and commonly adopted by...
in the Amazon rainforest
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
in Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, near Shell Mera
Shell Mera
Shell Mera is a town located in the eastern foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes, about from Quito. Its name comes from the Royal Dutch Shell Company, and the smaller town of Mera, which is to the west....
. In 1996, 18 months after moving to the tribal village at the request of the Huaorani elders, including Mincaye
Mincaye
Mincaye Enquedi is a Huao Ecuadorian preacher and church elder. In 1956, he took part in the now infamous attack on five missionaries during Operation Auca...
, to guide their interactions with the outside world, Saint moved back to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, so as to prevent the tribe from becoming detrimentally dependent on him. Upon his return to the United States, he founded I-TEC with the ambition to develop solutions to the economic and cultural crises that the Huaorani and many other tribal cultures face, using technology that indigenous people can operate and maintain with minimal outside support. Steve Saint has worked extensively with the Huaorani and insists, “I only do what the Waodani
Huaorani
The Huaorani, Waorani or Waodani, also known as the Waos, are native Amerindians from the Amazonian Region of Ecuador who have marked differences from other ethnic groups from Ecuador. The alternate name Auca is a pejorative exonym used by the neighboring Quechua Indians, and commonly adopted by...
have asked me to do. I would just as soon they live in their old culture—without the killing. But that really isn't for me to decide. The people in the culture who have to live with the ramifications of the change are the ones who should decide.”
I-Fly Maverick
Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics is an American magazine first published January 11, 1902 by H. H. Windsor, and has been owned since 1958 by the Hearst Corporation...
, the Maverick "looks like a dune buggy
Dune buggy
A dune buggy is a recreational vehicle with large wheels, and wide tires, designed for use on sand dunes or beaches. The design is usually a modified vehicle and engine mounted on an open chassis. The modifications usually attempt to increase the power-to-weight ratio by either lightening the...
, but one with a propeller in back like an Everglades
Everglades
The Everglades are subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee...
airboat and, billowing above, a rainbow colored flex wing … held aloft on a mast." Equipped with the largest powered parachute certified by the FAA, the Maverick received experimental aircraft
Experimental aircraft
An experimental aircraft is an aircraft that has not yet been fully proven in flight. Often, this implies that new aerospace technologies are being tested on the aircraft, though the label is more broad....
airworthiness certification on April 14th, 2008, with N-Number
Aircraft registration
An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile...
356MV.
Capable of interstate
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
speeds on pavement, the Maverick's dune buggy-like frame of chromoly tubing gives it the ability to be used off-road. Additionally, the vehicle can deploy a parafoil
Parafoil
A parafoil is a nonrigid airfoil with an aerodynamic cell structure which is inflated by the wind. Ram-air inflation forces the parafoil into a classic wing cross-section. Parafoils are most commonly constructed out of ripstop nylon....
and fly as a powered parachute
Powered parachute
A powered parachute is a parachute with motor and wheels. The aircraft's airspeed is typically about 25–35 mph . PPCs operate safely at heights ranging from a few feet off the ground to altitudes as high as 18,000+ feet...
. It weighs about 1100 pounds and has a useful carrying capacity equivalent to a Cessna 172
Cessna 172
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing fixed-wing aircraft. First flown in 1955 and still in production, more Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft.-Design and development:...
(fuel and 550 pounds cargo). With a 22-foot mast, the Maverick can take off and land in weather conditions that other powered parachutes would not be able to safely handle. Steve Saint has said he envisions the Maverick being useful to the Huaorani and other Indian groups, farmers and ranchers, pipeline
Pipeline transport
Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Most commonly, liquids and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed air are also used....
inspection crews, and anyone else needing to traverse rough, roadless ground. Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics is an American magazine first published January 11, 1902 by H. H. Windsor, and has been owned since 1958 by the Hearst Corporation...
gave it their Breakthrough Award in 2009.
Additional projects
In addition to the Maverick, I-TEC is working on a number of additional projects. It has developed a program called "I-Dent" to train native HuaoraniHuaorani
The Huaorani, Waorani or Waodani, also known as the Waos, are native Amerindians from the Amazonian Region of Ecuador who have marked differences from other ethnic groups from Ecuador. The alternate name Auca is a pejorative exonym used by the neighboring Quechua Indians, and commonly adopted by...
to perform basic dental procedures using a lightweight portable dental chair, with the goal of improving dental conditions in the local Amazonian bush villages. I-TEC states that the chair has also been used in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
, Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
, and Burma. Founder Steve Saint states that they have a similar effort called "I-See," which aims to train indigenous corrective lenses
Glasses
Glasses, also known as eyeglasses , spectacles or simply specs , are frames bearing lenses worn in front of the eyes. They are normally used for vision correction or eye protection. Safety glasses are a kind of eye protection against flying debris or against visible and near visible light or...
vendors to be self-sustaining and to increase the availability of affordable glasses in frontier and impoverished areas.
External links
- I-TEC Official Site
- Interview of Steve Saint, along with footage of the Maverick in flight, from the Experimental Aircraft AssociationExperimental Aircraft AssociationThe Experimental Aircraft Association is an international organization of aviation enthusiasts based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Since its inception it has grown internationally with over 160,000 members and about 1,000 chapters worldwide....
.