The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Images of the native flora and fauna of Costa Rica will be on display at the Depot Café over the next two months in a show by Sisters photographer Lynn Woodward.

Proceeds from the sale of prints from the show will go toward rebuilding the community of Yorkin, Costa Rica, severely damaged by flooding in 2008.

The images were taken mostly from around the remote village community, which continues to be a special find for travelers, where they find gentle hospitality, tranquil days, and the beauty and bounty of the rainforest.

"My sister Autumn and I traveled there together in March, 2008," Woodward said, "one of her many trips there as she wrote her thesis (United Nations University for Peace, masters degree) on the structure of the Yorkin community collective, Stibrawpa, which is 'women's house' in Bribri. The building has become the focal point of the village, for meetings, cooking, meals, demonstrations, rocking babies in hammocks and general hanging out.

"The women, and men now too, work together to bring sustainable tourism to their village, where travelers learn about this indigenous tribe's traditional lifestyle," Woodward said. "They now live a mix, of course with some modern conveniences, but still fish with bows and arrows they make, and travel in dugout canoes - powered by Evinrudes in high water and poles in low - grow and process cacao (chocolate), and make jewelry, carvings and basketry from native plants."

Heavy rains are common during the monsoon months, but one night in November of 2008, a 90-foot wall of water came crashing down the river near the village. Their crops, boats, the women's house, guest accommodations, health clinic, toilets and several other buildings were swept away or severely damaged.

No lives were lost, as most of the village had evacuated.

"The community was initially at a complete loss: their livelihood and means of daily sustenance/subsistence were gone," Woodward said. "But they are rebuilding: this year's crops are producing, and 'Stibrawpa 2,' sanitary facilities and guest accommodations are now at a point where travelers can come stay and even help with the reconstruction if they wish."

Framed images will be on the wall at Depot Café at 250 W. Cascade Ave.

Matted prints will be available at the café on the weekends, and weekdays at Woodward's studio in Suite 204 at Sisters Art Works, 204 W. Adams Ave. More information is available at http://www.lynnwoodwarddesign.com.