Introduction to the Native American culture of the South American waura xingu river para region brazil amazon.

Hands Around the World

 Waura Shamen from the amazon river live in huts.

Native American Indian Cultures - the waura xingu river para region brazil amazon Indian Cultures from Around the World Introduction to the Native American culture of the South American waura indians xingu river para region brazil amazon.

 

Shipibo Indians

 

The Shipibo Indians reside at the southwestern edge of the vast Amazon Basin in Peru (map). Shipibo Indians are River Indians living along the banks and tributaries of the Amazon River. The Shipibo people are primarily artisns, hunters, and fishermen and some practice slash-and-burn agriculture. Primary tools are machetes and spears.  Virtually none of the villages have electricity. A small number of Shipibo people live in Iquitos where they make and sell their uniquely patterned art and craft.

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The Shipibo-Conibo consist of around 35,000 people living in three to four hundred villages located north and south of the town of Pucallpa on the Ucayali River, which connects Cuzco to the Brazilian Amazon.

They speak a language of the Panoan family, though some of them are starting to learn Spanish. Despite 300 years of sporadic contact with white or mestizo civilization, and massive conversion to Christianity in the 1950’s and 60’s the Shipibo-Conibos maintain a strong identity and retain their ancient ways. They are known for their intricate designs on their pottery and their bright clothing.

The Shipibo-Conibos are primarily hunters and fishermen, using some slash and burn farming, and still today none of the villages use electricity; machetes and spears are the primary tools. All of the villages use barter for trade, but their proximity to the burgeoning town of Pucallpa makes it inevitable that the people will soon be drawn into modern trade and exploitation.

(Text from the Peruvian Amazon Indian Institute)

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The Shipibo are well known for their distinctive pottery and textiles. In their culture the designs they use are  traditionally copied from the skin of the Giant Anaconda or the heavens, such as the Southern Cross. Many other designs were given to them by their culture hero Incan ancestors. Their cotton cloth is hand painted in traditional designs. The cloth is worn as a wrap around loin cloth by the women of the tribe as well as being used for other functions.

Shipibo artists

shipibo artists
shipibo artists
shipibo artists

This hand painted Shipibo cloth is on natural cotton fabric and painted with vegetable dyes.

hand painted shipibo indian cloth hand painted shipibo indian cloth
hand painted shipibo indian cloth hand painted shipibo indian cloth
hand painted shipibo indian cloth hand painted shipibo indian cloth
hand painted shipibo indian cloth hand painted shipibo indian cloth
hand painted shipibo indian cloth hand painted shipibo indian cloth
hand painted shipibo indian cloth hand painted shipibo indian cloth
hand painted shipibo indian cloth hand painted shipibo indian cloth
hand painted shipibo indian cloth hand painted shipibo indian cloth
hand painted shipibo indian cloth hand painted shipibo indian cloth
hand painted shipibo indian cloth hand painted shipibo indian cloth

 

 

shipibo pot It is very rare to find such a huge pot as this in perfect condition! This pot is a whopping 17" tall x 15 1/2" in diameter.
Shipibo fish sculpture, 8" long.
Shipibo turtle sculpture, 9" long.

 

 

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market for baskets, pottery, and other hand made crafts

 

native american indians Index indian tribes

 

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