The Shipibo Conibo Culture

1. The Shipibo-Conibo are an indigenous people along the Ucayali River in the Amazon rainforest in Perú. Formerly two groups, the Shipibo (fishmen) and the Conibo (apemen), they eventually became onedistinct tribe though intermarriage and communal ritual and are currently known as the Shipibo-Conibo people.
Lifestyle, Tradition & Diet
2. The Shipibo-Conibo live in the 21st centurywhile keeping one foot in the past spanning millennia in the Amazonian rainforest. Many of their traditions are still practiced, such as ayahuasca shamanism. Shamanistic songs have inspired artistictradition and decorative designs found in their clothing, pottery, tools and textiles. Some of the urbanized people live around Pucallpa in the Yarina Cocha, an extensive indigenous zone. Most others livein scattered villages over a large area of jungle forest extending from Brazil to Equador.

3. Shipibo-Conibo women make beadwork and textiles, but are probably best known for their pottery,decorated with maze-like red and black geometric patterns. While these ceramics were traditionally made for use in the home, an expanding tourist market has provided many households with extra incomethrough the sale of pots and other craft items.

4. The Shipibo of the villiage of Pao-Yan used to have a diet of fish, yucca and fruits. Now, however, the situation has deteriorated because ofglobal weather changes and now there is mostly just yucca and fish. Since there has been drought followed by flooding, most of the mature fruit trees have died, and some of the banana trees and plantainsare struggling. Global increases in energy and food prices have increased due to deforestation and erosion along the Ucayali River. The basic needs of the people are more important now than ever, whichaffects their long term planning abilities. There is now a sense that hunger may not be that far off for those in the farther reaches of the Shipibo nation.

5. Contact with western sources –...