Indigenous People's Technology and Education Center

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, the stated purpose of I-TEC is to empower indigenous churches to overcome the technological and educational hurdles that stand in the way of their independence."[1]

I-TEC - Indigenous People's Technology and Education Center
AbbreviationI-TEC
Formation1996
Type501(c)(3) not-for-profit
Location
Founder
Steve Saint
Websitehttps://www.itecusa.org

History

I-TEC was founded by Steve Saint, son of missionary Nate Saint, as a result of his experiences living among the Huaorani in the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador, near Shell Mera.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]

Indigenous Training Programs

I-TEC developed and currently uses numerous training programs and products to train and equip indigenous Christ-followers. The model of training instead of 'doing' in missions lessens the dependency on outsiders and equips the locals to meet needs and share the gospel.[5]

Aviation

The aviation program was one of the first developed at I-TEC with the goal of reaching people beyond roads. Currently, the program focuses on training missionary pilots (I-FLY) [6] and developing UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) to fly without a pilot to hard to reach areas.[7] In December 2015, the I-TEC UAV team completed successful testing of the UAV in Ecuador.[8]

Health

I-TEC's health programs train in basic dentistry (I-DENT), basic medical care (I-MED), and vision enhancement (I-SEE).[9] The I-DENT program uses the Portable Dental Chair, developed by I-TEC in 2002 to make dental work in frontier areas easier for patients and dentists.[10]

Engineering

The I-FIX program was launched in Ecuador and has since been used around the world to train local Christ-followers to troubleshoot and repair motorcycles, chainsaws, outboard motors, and other small engine tools.[10]

Media

The I-FILM training program was developed to teach basic documentary story-telling to indigenous Christ-followers in 2014.[11] The training centers around iPads, equipping students with a device to shoot video, edit and distribute on one device.[11]

Discipleship

LIFE Study was released in 2015 as a discipleship program for the indigenous Christ-followers in the United States.

Maverick LSA
The Maverick in flight.

Developed by I-TEC, the 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."[12] Equipped with the largest powered parachute available, the Maverick was first accepted by the Federal Aviation Administration as an experimental aircraft on April 14, 2008.[13]

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.[12] Popular Mechanics gave it their Breakthrough Award in 2009.[14]

References
  1. "I-TEC Website". Retrieved 2017-01-16.
  2. Martin, Allie (10 June 2003). "Forgiveness of Father's Killers Made Possible Through Christ". Agape Press. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  3. Charlton, Linda (23 April 2007). "Airplane entrepreneurs taking their factory to Amazon Jungle". Star-Banner. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  4. Wood, Rick (May–June 1998). "Fighting Dependency Among "the Aucas"" (PDF). Mission Frontiers Bulletin. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  5. "About I-TEC | What We Do". I-TEC | Indigenous People's Technology and Education Center. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
  6. "I-TEC Pilot Training | I-FLY | I-TEC | Indigenous People's Technology and Education Center". I-TEC | Indigenous People's Technology and Education Center. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
  7. "Aviation | I-TEC | Indigenous People's Technology and Education Center". I-TEC | Indigenous People's Technology and Education Center. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
  8. itecusavideo (2016-02-04), UAV's Bringing A New Look at Missions, retrieved 2017-01-16
  9. "I-TEC Health - Training & Equipping - I-SEE I-DENT I-MED". I-TEC | Indigenous People's Technology and Education Center. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
  10. "Engineering | I-TEC | Indigenous People's Technology and Education Center". I-TEC | Indigenous People's Technology and Education Center. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
  11. "I-TEC Film Training | I-FILM | I-TEC | Indigenous People's Technology and Education Center". I-TEC | Indigenous People's Technology and Education Center. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
  12. Ward, Logan (May 2009). "New Flying Car Aims to Save Lives in the Amazon". Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on 2009-11-07. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  13. FAA N-number registry
  14. Bolduan, Kate (2010-10-27). "Missionary builds flying car, FAA certifies it". CNN. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
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