Nixiwaka Yawanawá resides within the UK and between 2013 and 2015 labored at Survival Worldwide’s headquarters to lift consciousness of the rights of Amazon Indians. His tribe, the Yawanawá, numbers over 900.
Êwê anê Nixiwaka, Ê Yawanawa ihuhu, êwê yurahûki kânu, pênâku hiash. Mâ ika ânu, matuvê iwânâ, mahu tapipai ê uitamêa. Nênuashê kashê êwê yurahâu ravâna ipai
My identify is Nixiwaka. I’m a member of the Yawanawá tribe. I intend to return to my tribe sooner or later, however first I wish to keep within the UK for some time, in order that after I return I will assist my individuals.
Childhood and household
The identify Yawanawá interprets as ‘The Individuals of the Wild Boar’. It’s because as a tribe, we’re all the time collectively – once we hunt, and in life basically. We’re a pack.
I used to be born in Kaxinawa, essentially the most sacred a part of the Yawanawá lands, the place my individuals originate from. Kaxinawa is the place my grandfather and all our nice chiefs are buried. I lived there for a month as a child, and we then moved to Tarauaca, a small city close to our lands.
My Father had been requested by FUNAI (the Nationwide Indian Basis) to symbolize Indigenous peoples within the space, which is why we moved to Tarauaca. I believe he was one of many first Indians to be employed by FUNAI in Acre state, as a driver. He spoke superb Portuguese. I studied on the town till I used to be 10 years outdated, then we moved again to our village, which is named ‘New Hope’. Kaxinawa is now often called ‘the sacred place’.
My Father was involved that we had been faraway from our individuals and wished us to be raised inside the Yawanawá lifestyle. Within the rainforest, you might be utterly related to the weather; you might be surrounded by the fixed sounds of animals, bugs, frogs and water. At evening you might be illuminated by the celebs, which shine endlessly. It’s stunning!
I come from a big household. My father and mom are from totally different tribes: my father is Yawanawá and my mom is half Shanenawa, from the Nation of Parrots.
Collectively they’ve had 5 youngsters, however I’ve 10 different siblings from my fathers’ different marriages.
I’ve three youngsters: two boys from a earlier relationship and a lady from my marriage to Oona Béat Yawanawá. They’re all half Yawanawá from my facet. All my youngsters carry the sturdy Yawanawá identification and I plan to show them our traditions.
As a baby, I used to be taught each Portuguese and our personal language, Yawanawá. Sadly, once we got here into contact with outsiders, our individuals had been pressured to talk solely Portuguese, so I didn’t have a lot alternative to talk the Yawanawá language. I used to be discriminated in opposition to in school. In the present day, the Yawanawá individuals converse each languages, and nonetheless train each to the youthful generations. And now, residing in London, I’ve needed to choose up just a little English!
Studying English has been a optimistic factor, as I now perceive much more about our rights as Brazilian Indigenous residents. I understand how to make use of sure applied sciences and the right way to talk with white individuals. I hope I can share with my individuals what is sweet and what’s not good about western methods of life.
First contact
After we had been first contacted, many Yawanawá individuals died from frequent colds, from illnesses they didn’t learn about. Our shamans couldn’t remedy them.
After contact, white individuals pressured their opinions on us. We had been pressured to alter the best way we prayed, the best way we dressed, the languages we spoke and even the best way we noticed the world. They criticized the best way we lived and informed us that their way of life was higher than ours. Missionaries informed us that our rituals had been the Satan’s work. We felt ashamed and rejected.
We had no concept we wanted a authorized proper to dwell on our personal lands! The land was and is clearly ours. We’ve by no means doubted that.
When white males first arrived in our Yawanawá lands they launched us to issues we had by no means identified earlier than reminiscent of alcohol, sugar and salt.
I believe our personal lifestyle is the healthiest manner for the Yawanawá to dwell on this world and nonetheless maintain onto what we have now realized from the skin. We’re joyful to share what we all know; the issues we’re nonetheless studying from the rainforest.
However many younger Yawanawá individuals nonetheless find yourself in cities, going to events, ingesting lots and utilizing prostitutes. Like many different tribes, we now even have a giant downside with diabetes.
Rainforest information
We’ve got people who find themselves often called ‘Docs of the rainforest’. They know all the pieces there may be to learn about medicinal vegetation. They are saying that this world is gorgeous place to dwell in; that every one among us on earth has a accountability to maintain it.
I do know that western drugs is now utilizing our vegetation and treatments that we, the Yawanawá, have used for hundreds of years. From tree bark to frog spit, we maintain the solutions for cures and poisons alike. Ladies rub a sort of potato plant known as ‘rau’, on their tummies so as to try to conceive.
Different vegetation, such because the plant known as ’Hukâshupa’, is used for lovers; to create luck in relationships. It’s the sap of three crushed vegetation, that’s worn as a fragrance to draw a lover. The forest is a magical place.
I believe the western world may maybe study to dwell a lifetime of larger concord and peace with our environment from us. I stay up for a time once we can mix Yawanawá information and western concepts.
Since time immemorial, the Yawanawá individuals have used ‘rumê’ (snuff-tobacco with bark of a selected tree), as a part of our custom and tradition. We principally use rumê in our sacred ceremonies with UNI (our sacred drink extra generally often called ayahuasca).
However ‘rumê’ can also be taken within the afternoon, earlier than washing.
The water cleans our physique and spirit; it’s our favourite a part of the day.
Yawanawá traditions
I had an in depth relationship with Tuîkuru, Tata, uncles and aunts. Tuîkuru was our patriarch, he has taught me all the pieces there may be to learn about my Yawanawá tradition: language, traditions, medicinal vegetation and our sacred songs. We sing these throughout our ceremonies, once we drink our sacred drinks. That is once we inform the tales of our ancestors.
The Yawanawá are identified for our songs and tales, my favourite being ‘Wakomaya’, which suggests ‘happiness’. It’s a music we sing to welcome visitors into our neighborhood and an invite for them to bounce with us. Every time I sing this music to my daughter, she calms down and listens intently.
Throughout Yawanawá ceremonies we see visions via the songs of the shaman, which join us to the non secular world. As quickly because the shamans begin to sing, they transmit their visions to the group. Some individuals perceive them, others don’t.
Throughout one among our conventional ceremonies, I had a robust imaginative and prescient that I used to be being led by the hand by my spouse, who has lived in London from an early age. Within the imaginative and prescient, she was exhibiting me a metropolis that appeared past a hill. Once I lastly did come to London, I had this sturdy déjà-vu of getting been right here earlier than. I really imagine it was from my imaginative and prescient.
We inherit these rituals from our ancestors. They’re a part of who we’re. It’s the time when you possibly can join with the spirits, and see the world otherwise.
Searching
Yawanawá males go away early to hunt, at round 4 or 5 within the morning. We hunt alone. We’d make an excessive amount of noise if we hunted in teams, significantly in the summertime, when the leaves crunch beneath your ft. I began searching at 10 years outdated and realized by following my father into the rainforest.
We hunt deer, wild pigs, tapir. And we hunt at evening for the nocturnal paca, a sort of South American rodent.
In keeping with our delusion, if a Yawanawá hunter finds a wild boar with one white leg whereas searching, he’s very fortunate.
After we are searching, we imitate sure animals so as to draw them in the direction of us, like monkeys, deer and caiman.
Pets
My mom had a parrot that lived till she was 13 years outdated. The parrot may speak – she would ask me, ‘Você quer café?’ (‘Would you want a espresso?’).
Meals
We eat bananas, papaya, sugar cane and manioc juice (known as ‘caiçuma’) for breakfast. And meat, if there may be some left over from dinner the evening earlier than. For lunch we have now manioc once more, with inexperienced bananas and mashed plantain. Supper is meat and fish.
Climbing Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis was a problem that an incredible buddy of mine informed me about. She thought it could be an excellent alternative for me to point out my assist to our brothers, the Awá, who’ve many struggles. Being Indigenous, we have now to assist one another in each manner attainable. I want I may do extra to assist them.
I didn’t put together a lot for the climb. Having been introduced up within the Amazon, I’ve all the time been match, maybe on account of searching. Most of it was psychological preparation via meditation. I discovered the climb tiring, however I’d fortunately do it once more.
Climbing Ben Nevis was one of the crucial wonderful issues I’ve skilled. The change of panorama in addition to temperature was stunning; I may barely stand the chilly! We solely had a couple of minutes to take photos once we reached the summit. Once I took off my gloves, it felt like ice.
From the Amazon to London
I first heard about Survival from a really shut buddy of ours, who has been working with the Yawanawá for over 15 years. He was additionally a type of sponsor for my journey to London and has supported my household and I in all attainable methods. We’re past grateful for his assist and love.
London is a stupendous metropolis, wealthy in historical past and stuffed with ghosts. I really feel a really sturdy power in wintertime, after I stroll within the parks. Generally I really feel as if I’m surrounded by ghosts, who’re strolling beside me.
Working with Survival
I imagine that Survival is essential for tribes like ours, as they’re a promise for change and assist defend our lives. I felt honored to work with such a longtime group of actual, type and motivated individuals who actually care and imagine of their work.
Survival can actually assist to alter individuals’s opinions by exhibiting the world how Indigenous individuals dwell, our traditions and beliefs, and the issues we face.
It is rather tough to listen to that different individuals imagine that tribal peoples are ‘backward’ or ‘primitive’. They’re flawed. It’s a lack of respect for the best way we select to dwell.
It’s now time we make our personal selections. It’s now time we have now a voice, and we select to dwell the best way we wish to.
Yawanawá homelands
Our land is our dwelling, our home. It’s our buddy, our comrade. We’ve got quite a lot of respect for our land, and we have now a accountability to take care of it.
My favourite time of day within the rainforest is on the finish of the afternoon, at sundown, after I take our sacred drugs. Everybody gathers on a big space of open land. At nightfall, birds are come again to roost within the tacana bushes, and there may be the music of the brown Makukau birds throughout us. It’s a very peaceable time of day. I miss it!
The destruction of our rainforest land is horrible, as a result of the forest is alive. It’s our life, and the animals’ life. We don’t separate our existence from it, we’re all one physique and one being: the vegetation, water, bushes and Yawanawá.
After we see hurt come to the rainforest, it’s as if part of our personal physique has been harm. It appears like an sickness that rises up in us and must be cured.
It has now been 29 years since our lands had been demarcated, however that doesn’t cease the deforestation that takes place on the border with Peru and Brazil. There’s a concern that sooner or later this may unfold into our lands, which is able to threaten our searching, our safety and the protection of the animals that dwell amongst us.
Deforestation is the reason for so many points inside Indigenous communities. And the animals want the forest as a lot as we do.
We’ve got been struggling to guard our Mom Earth. The medication reveals to us, we have to unfold our imaginative and prescient to those that can’t see how stunning this place is.
Take heed to Nixiwaka on the BBC World Service’s “Newsday”
Nixiwaka Yawanawa World Service Recording
