Hi everyone,

I recently visited the ‘Amazonia: The Rights of Nature’ exhibit at the Museum of Anthropology in UBC. It is dedicated to the indigenous tribes of the Amazon rain forest to acknowledge and explores the creative ideas that inspire Indigenous resistance to threats facing their habitat. There are various objects displayed, such as – pots, pans, bags, headdresses etc., which are a collection of acquisitions and donations. The museum is also a centre to portray the relationship of Canadians and the indigenous tribes.

Of all the objects and panels displayed across the exhibit, what I found the most intriguing, was the panel about the Shipbo and their artefacts. The Shipbo tribe lives along the Ucayali river in the upper part of the Amazon, in Peru. The tribe is famous for their sacred artwork and spiritual remedies. The ‘kene’ is the design reproduced in wood, canvas, ceramic or human skin. It is an expression of the tribe’s worldview. Some of the pots had faces carved into them through the design. The ‘kene’ is a executed by the women of the tribe and is taught by practice from one generation to another. However, the motifs of these designs are only revealed to specific people through the chants that are performed in ‘ayahuasca’ ceremonies. These ceremonies are believed to spiritually enlighten people through the consumption of a special drink.

I felt a certain connection to this particular part of the exhibit as I come from a religion and background that is highly spiritual. Hinduism’s primary medium of communication and its most important aspect is the chants. Spirituality has played a major role in my childhood and hence, I understand its cultural significance and feel more inclined to connect with this particular tribe.

Inspite of the fact that I have not been to the Amazon yet, or have not seen a tribe before, the museum definitely enriches the second hand experience. It provided a platform to reflect on my connection to these tribes and the forest as whole. Today, the 36,000 Shipobos and other tribes across the region are facing a tremendous threat from major corporations, fisherman, and missionaries as these groups try to invade the tribe’s territory for construction and exploitation purposes. As a Geography student seeking to protect the environment, it pains me to see that there is no serious action being taken against these developing threats and brings into question my ethical responsibility towards these indigenous people.

The museum does a great job in channelling the different cultural works of the tribes, both architecturally and contextually, while keeping in mind the foremost reason of the exhibit – to bring awareness and understanding of consequences of the developing threats that are endangering these tribes.