THE CHAYAHUITA TRIBE
With an estimated population of 6,000 people, the
"Chayahuita Indians once lived in the upper reaches
of the Río Sillay in Peru, but seventeenth-century
slave raids cut their population drastically and were
probably responsible for pushing most of them to
their present location in the region of the headwaters
of the Río Paranapura as well as to the region of the
Cahuapanas and Shanusi rivers in Peru..."
(World Culture Encyclopedia). They have no actual
written history, and are said to live in approximately
105 villages -- most with 200-300 people -- in the
Amazon basin of Peru. On this map, the mission team
will be traveling on the river from where the road ends
in Yurimaguas (at the red X).
For centuries, the Chayahuita were subsistence
horticulturists, raising sweet manioc and maize,
hunting with blowguns, bows and arrows, and traps,
and fishing with drag
nets and spears. They crafted baskets and distinctive pottery,
and went naked most of the time. They decorated their bodies
with feathered headgear, arm bands, body paints, tattooed
skin (palm needles and rubber-soot pigment), and ear
ornaments. Most are now clothed, often with bright colors
and headdress decorations.
Although contact with the outside world has increased
substantially in the past several decades, the illiteracy rate
remains high, and many members of the Tribe remain
monolingual, speaking only their original Chayahuita
language.
They now live fairly simple lives as farmers and hunters,
and their diet is made up
mostly of plaintain, suri
(a worm), small fish, chicken and plenty of "masato"
(an alcohol drink made of yucca or sweet potato that
was chewed and spit into the fermenting containers).
Chayahuita of all ages drink this, and some who study
the Tribe suspect that this creates slower mentation in
many of them, and most likely leads to a significant
incidence of -- and long-lasting effects of --
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Here is the World Health Organization report on HIV in South America. On Page 7, it
singles out the Chayahuita tribe, noting the elevated HIV prevalence among the indigenous
populations in the Amazon regions of Peru:
"In 2004, among adult Chayahuita, HIV prevalence of 7.5% was found."
Overall, the national prevalence of HIV in Peru is estimated to be 0.6%. As is true in the
rest of the world, much higher HIV prevalence rates occur in South American areas with
increased male homosexual activity, and Zavaleta et al (2007) studied the Chayahuita
specifically, confirming a 7.5% prevalence of HIV, and concluding,
"At the current levels of HIV prevalence, there is the risk of a negative impact on
the survival of the Chayahuita ethnic group as a whole."
The Peruvian Ministry of Health is reaching many of the Chayahuita now, with routine
vaccinations and some isolated "Health Clinics". However, like many Health Departments
in such areas, there are little or no medical supplies or medications available, so useful
medical and dental care remains quite limited.
"Chayahuita Indians once lived in the upper reaches
of the Río Sillay in Peru, but seventeenth-century
slave raids cut their population drastically and were
probably responsible for pushing most of them to
their present location in the region of the headwaters
of the Río Paranapura as well as to the region of the
Cahuapanas and Shanusi rivers in Peru..."
(World Culture Encyclopedia). They have no actual
written history, and are said to live in approximately
105 villages -- most with 200-300 people -- in the
Amazon basin of Peru. On this map, the mission team
will be traveling on the river from where the road ends
in Yurimaguas (at the red X).
For centuries, the Chayahuita were subsistence
horticulturists, raising sweet manioc and maize,
hunting with blowguns, bows and arrows, and traps,
and fishing with drag
nets and spears. They crafted baskets and distinctive pottery,
and went naked most of the time. They decorated their bodies
with feathered headgear, arm bands, body paints, tattooed
skin (palm needles and rubber-soot pigment), and ear
ornaments. Most are now clothed, often with bright colors
and headdress decorations.
Although contact with the outside world has increased
substantially in the past several decades, the illiteracy rate
remains high, and many members of the Tribe remain
monolingual, speaking only their original Chayahuita
language.
They now live fairly simple lives as farmers and hunters,
and their diet is made up
mostly of plaintain, suri
(a worm), small fish, chicken and plenty of "masato"
(an alcohol drink made of yucca or sweet potato that
was chewed and spit into the fermenting containers).
Chayahuita of all ages drink this, and some who study
the Tribe suspect that this creates slower mentation in
many of them, and most likely leads to a significant
incidence of -- and long-lasting effects of --
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Here is the World Health Organization report on HIV in South America. On Page 7, it
singles out the Chayahuita tribe, noting the elevated HIV prevalence among the indigenous
populations in the Amazon regions of Peru:
"In 2004, among adult Chayahuita, HIV prevalence of 7.5% was found."
Overall, the national prevalence of HIV in Peru is estimated to be 0.6%. As is true in the
rest of the world, much higher HIV prevalence rates occur in South American areas with
increased male homosexual activity, and Zavaleta et al (2007) studied the Chayahuita
specifically, confirming a 7.5% prevalence of HIV, and concluding,
"At the current levels of HIV prevalence, there is the risk of a negative impact on
the survival of the Chayahuita ethnic group as a whole."
The Peruvian Ministry of Health is reaching many of the Chayahuita now, with routine
vaccinations and some isolated "Health Clinics". However, like many Health Departments
in such areas, there are little or no medical supplies or medications available, so useful
medical and dental care remains quite limited.
The further from the end of
the road in Yurimaguas
one goes, the more
isolated from more
modern civilizations it
becomes....
the road in Yurimaguas
one goes, the more
isolated from more
modern civilizations it
becomes....
x
LISTEN TO MISSIONARY SUSAN HOLOWECKY SPEAK ABOUT HER WORK WITH THE
CHAYAHUITA DURING THIS RECENT CHURCH SERVICE IN THE USA.
CHAYAHUITA DURING THIS RECENT CHURCH SERVICE IN THE USA.