The Ashaninka are one of the largest indigenous groups in South America, their ancestral homelands ranging from Brazil to Peru. Since colonial times, their existence has been difficult -- they have been enslaved, had their lands taken away or destroyed, and were caught up in the bloody internal conflict in Peru during the late 20th century. Today, a large communal reserve set aside for the Ashaninka is under threat by the proposed Pakitzapango dam, which would displace some 10,000 Ashaninka. The dam is part of a large set of hydroelectric projects planned between the Brazilian and Peruvian governments - without any original consultation with the Ashaninka. Bowing to recent pressure from indigenous groups, development one other dam in the project, the Tambo-40, has already been halted. The Pakitzapango dam on Peru's Ene River is currently on hold, though the project has not been withdrawn yet. Survival International has collected these images of the Ashaninka and their threatened homeland, and provided the text below, written by Jo Eede.
The Ashaninka, A Threatened Way of Life
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Read moreAcre Province, in the Amazon Rainforest, Brazil. Ashaninka Indians apply face-paint each day, in a design that reflects their mood. Made from the seeds of the Urucum plant, the paint has a rich, red color. Men take just as much care of their appearance as women. #
© Mike Goldwater -
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Read moreAshaninka children look out over the River Breu from their hilltop home in the village of Simpatia. #
© Mike Goldwater -
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Read moreDark monsoon clouds gather over the Envira River in Acre Province, Brazil. #
© Mike Goldwater -
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Read moreA large group travels upstream by boat, to visit neighboring Ashaninka. #
© Mike Goldwater -
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Read moreA girl, after finishing her face-paint, in Acre Province, Brazil. #
© Mike Goldwater -
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Read moreOne of the chief's sons works thread into a pattern on a hunting arrow on the River Amonia in Acre Province, Brazil. #
© Mike Goldwater -
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Read moreA young Ashaninka boy practices his archery skills using arrows with blunt tips for bringing down birds. #
© Mike Goldwater -
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Read moreAshaninka girls will raise this orphaned baby pig. A litter of piglets was found by a hunting party after they killed two boars near the River Envira, in Acre Province, Brazil. #
© Mike Goldwater -
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Read moreA lone Ashaninka crosses the river in a dug out boat in the early morning mist, near Simpatia Village, Brazil. #
© Mike Goldwater -
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Read moreA friend applies the finishing touches to a girl's face-paint. Ashaninka Indians apply face-paint each day, in a design that reflects their mood. Made from the seeds of the Urucum plant, the paint has a rich, red color. Sometimes they also use fire-black for details. #
© Mike Goldwater -
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Read moreThe approach to Eagle's Canyon, sacred place of the Ashaninka. In their mythology, this is where the eagles collect those who die who then become eagles themselves. #
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Read moreA young Ashaninka couple with their first child, in Simpatia Village, Acre Province, Brazil. #
© Mike Goldwater -
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Read moreA group of boys make combs from strips of bamboo near the River Amonia, Brazil. #
© Mike Goldwater -
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Read moreThe Ene River valley, in Peru. #
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Read moreA large group travels upstream by boat, to visit a neighboring Ashaninka community. #
© Mike Goldwater -
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Read moreLopez is hunting game in the forest canopy, near the River Breu, in Acre Province, Brazil. #
© Mike Goldwater -
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Read moreAn aerial view of part of the Ene River Valley, part of the Ashaninka's homeland, in Peru. #
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