Awajuún communities of Alto Mayo (San Martín) presented the book "Awajuúni Dekátii", a compendium of their traditional knowledge gathered through dialogue and reflection between the local youth and wise men and women from of their own communities. These traditions and practices belong to five awajún communities; Alto Mayo, Alto Naranjillo, Huascayacu, Morroyacu and Shampuyacu.
© Conservation International Peru
The presentation, held on the premises of the Ministry of Culture, was hosted b, Andrés Wajai, one of the wise men from Huascayacu native community, and participant of this process, and Cali Tiwi, young cultural promoter responsible of gathering part of this work. She explained: "All this knowledge belongs to the four different spaces of life where we interact with the Amazon: water, forest, farm and house. In the space of the house we learned how to make weavings, necklaces, brooms and baskets".
Nature and the Awajún people are the main protagonists of these series of books. Each of the pages reflect an intimate and powerful dialogue between the Awajún women and men with their forest, rivers, animals and the spirits that are embodied in each of these. These books are present in each of the community libraries and are part of the teaching materials used to contribute to the recovery, revaluing and affirmation of the good practices of the Awajún culture.
© Conservation International Peru
The series of 5 books- each belonging to one of the communities, is promoted by the Regional Awajún Indigenous Federation of Alto Mayo - FERIAAM, Conservation International and its partner PRATEC. As said by the president of FERIAAM, Edward Cahuaza, the purpose of these books is to strengthen the knowledge, capacities and incentives for the Awajún people to benefit and prosper while conserving their forests.
During the presentation the General Director of Indigenous Peoples' Rights of the Ministry of Culture, Dulhy Pinedo, highlighted the enormous value of the publication not only for the awajun indigenous people, the second biggest Amazon ethnic group in Peru, but for the country's cultural legacy.