Machiguenga

Their main source of protein used to be peccary and monkeys but today fish has become more important as game animals have become increasingly scarce as a consequence of the encroachment from highland immigrants to the area and the exploitation of the Camisea gas finds.

[1] The Machiguenga people have a preference for self-sufficiency when it comes to cultivating essential crops, made possible by their generous land allocation per capita, and the lack of conflict in their area.

Spirits and demons influence everyday life whereas the creator gods have withdrawn and are indifferent to humans.

Shamans used to play a prominent role in local society, today though they are less visible and certain of their functions have been taken over by healers.

While quite accomplished in using plants and herbs as medicine, the Matsiguenka are susceptible to new infectious diseases brought in from the outside world.

This means that the relations between mothers and daughters are strong while the position of inmarrying men, who come from other family constellations, may be experienced as vulnerable.

Balboa: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, and Lima: Instituto Frances de Estudios Andinos.