Since April of 1998 this project has promoted awareness of the value of ancestral knowledge among indigenous people belonging to four ethnic groups in six communities in the Manu Biospere Reserve, Peru. The Shamans (or Promotores) heading up the project in each of these communities are the guardians of the traditional knowledge and their influence over communal authorities and the local population makes an important contribution towards the protection of the forests and other natural resources though the application of the traditional norms which the Shamans uphold. This project collaborates with the Shamans in preserving and promoting respect for traditional knowledge within the communities; by organizing meetings, interchange of experiences, natural resource management and other activities.

Activities During the Period

Plant Identification
During the last six months Alberto Manqueriapa of Huacaria, head of the project, has continued his work in compiling a large inventory of native medicinal, artesanal and fruit plants. With the help of the new biologist on the project, Nohemi Villena of Pro-Naturaleza, he has continued to advance the identification of the scientific names of the collected species. The draft of his document is being readied to be reviewed by the Shamans in the other communities,in order to get their input on the varieties and uses of the plants. It is planned that the booklet will be completed by the end of the year 2000.

Ritual Use and Demonstration Plot Development
The project has continued to provide support and technical advice for the development of the "demonstration medicinal garden plots" (to be installed in all communities during 2001) which are being managed now by both the indigenous and migrant participants of the project. Sample information boards and name plates have been installed in the plots to identify the species being grown for both community members and visitors. With the help of the shaman from each community, more seeds and vegetative materials have been collected with the aim of increasing the diversity of the medicinal, artesanal and fruit plants on the existing plots. New propagation techniques are being tested in the Pro-Nat. office in the central town of Philcopata. In addition, work has continued on the development of the "ritual use" areas already designated in the communities of Huacaria and Q'eros. In these areas, people area being educated about preserving the plants in their "wild state" and also about how that supports the wider environment around them.

Inclusion of Women and Children
Biologist Nohemi has worked with Alberto to develop a new part of the project, initiating the preparation of various "pomades and tinctures" by the women and children involved in the project. These will be used as "medicinals" for the community and also to sell in the local markets as part of sustainable community development (reducing need for logging revenue etc.). The project will be actualized in the year 2001.

Shamans Confederation Meeting and Years End "Review Workshop
The second Annual Shamans Confederation meeting was held in May of 2000 in the village of Huacaria. The meeting was well attended by shaman/Promotores of all communities, some of whom traveled two days by boat to attend. The three days were divded as follows: Day one: Shamans met to share knowledge of "cures "and to get to know one another. All agreed that they wanted to be more inviting of one another in the sharing of traditional knowledge. They agreed that knowledge collected from the elders is most important lest it be lost to antiquity. All shamans are in favor of the current project. As interviewed by Tropical Rainforest Representative Donna Runnalls, the shamans agreed about the importance of establishing central "healing spaces" in each individual community (versus one central location) where the plant teachings could be imparted to students and where "treatments" could take place. Day Two: During the evening of the first night a shamanic ceremony was conducted by the promotors and attended by Western medical professionals of Peruvian ethnicity from the Ministry of Health Dept. of Peru and the Medical Center of Philcopata and invited guests including TRC. The shamans gave "treatments" to community members and witnessed by the other health professionals. During the afternoon of Day Two, an historical event took place during the "inaugeration" of the new Womens Health Center of Philcopata. Both the Shamans and the Western doctors spoke and "joined hands" in commitment to the health of the larger community. Day Three: The shamans visited the local "medicinal garden plots" of TRC/Pro-Nat and took instruction in the maintenance of the ongoing project.

2000 Year-End Review Meeting
A December meeting will be sponsored by the project which will be attended by members from all communities and will have several themes. Important to mention will be the discussion of indigenous women as carriers and promotors of traditional medicine. Another important theme will be the development of indicators to monitor the project on the social and environmental level during the coming year.


Donna Runnalls,
TRC Board of Directors