Traditional Medicine and Amazon Spirituality Project for the Huachipayri Nation of Peru

During the month of May 2001, Living Bridges funded a project offered by CECUWA, Cultural Center Wanamey, directed by the son of Don Alejandro Darikiking Jahuranchi, Joel Jahuranchi.

The project was centered on training a group of youth aged 15 to thirty years from the Huachipaeri community of Qeros in the theoretical and traditional practical knowledge of the ethnomedicine of this Amazon region.

History

The need to train youth in the use of traditional plant and spiritual "medicine" has been well established. During the last five decades cultural exchange with the outside world in the form of religion and commerce has greatly impacted both the interest in and possibilities for training.

Both the work of AMETRA (Application of Traditional Medicine) in 1986 and FENAMAD (Native Federation of the River Mother and Flowing) in 1991 had previously developed activites in this region with the objective of "revaluation" of traditional medicine and in the case of the latter, with the publication of a small manual on medicinal plants and their uses.

Most recently the Shamans Encounters sponsored by Pro-Naturaleza and Tropical Rainforest Coalition have increased the interest and involvement of the remaining elder teachers from the Huachpaeri tribe and other tribal ethnic members from the extended bio-region in the training of the Youth.

Activities and Methods

The thirty youth participating in the training workshop were divided into two groups each facilitated by an elder male Maestros. The Shamans of the Shamans Confederation refer to themselves as Maestros

The workshops held in the actual forest areas focused on identifying and teaching about the healing properties of various plants and actually practicing the application of "cures".

Results

The workshop was well appreciated by all those youth in attendance.

It is hoped that other trainings with the youth will continue to inspire them to uphold the original values of their cultures and to foster the revived use of medicinal plants and "cures" for everyday ailments.