EDAI

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR AMERINDIANS

EDAI is an economic development fund for Native Peoples in North, Central and South America.

It is the goal of EDAI to provide initial support for economic development projects

EDAI is based in Zürich, Switzerland
 

The projects are to be

initiated by native people

established in harmony with Amerindian traditions

aimed at producing and marketing food products by methods which preserve the resources

EDAI’s major focus
A new EDAI-strategy was approved by EDAI’s board.
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The initiative to establish EDAI has come through the needs of a group of Native women living on the Wabauskang Reserve in Ontario/Canada. Without seed capital, they were unable to get a loan from the Government of Canada for their blueberry project.

The successful production and marketing of wildrice by these women proves, that projects initiated by Native people have a much broader effect than those developed without native participation. Furthermore it is beneficial if people control their natural resources.

Native peoples in the Americas are loosing their subsistence economy. They need initial support to establish small economic projects. This is provided by EDAI.

EDAI expert facilitators guarantee a competent project selection and followup. The administrative expenses are kept to a minimum, due to the volunteer work carried out by EDAI facilitators.
 

Board members

Chairman
Heinz Lippuner, Prof. Dr., Professor of Literature

Secretary
Peter R. Gerber, Dr. phil., Curator, 
Museum of Anthropology, University of Zurich
www.musethno.uzh.ch
 
Finances
Paul Maier, Zurich

Bernard Müller, Consultant
 

If you would like to support EDAI
  • with donations for EDAI’s activities
  • with your membership subscription  (annual fee: $ 20,00)

please contact EDAI
c/o Dr. Peter R. Gerber
Hoehenweg 16
CH- 8032 Zuerich/Switzerland
e-mail: prgerber@vmz.uzh.ch

As a member of EDAI you are entitled to receive EDAI's declaration of principles and articles as well as periodical information about its activities.