Case Study: The Jivaro People

The Jivaro people also known as the Shuar people are one of the indigenous people that habitat parts of eastern Ecuador, and northern Peru. They live in small, spread out villages of approximately 22,000 square miles throughout the Amazon forest and foothills of the Andes mountains. The Jivaro people consist of different smaller groups of people such as Achuar, Humabisa, Aguaruan, Antipas, Mayna. The people can also speak over six languages: Jivoran, Quechua, Shiwar, Achuar, Awajun, and Huambisa. The purpose of this study is to discern how the history of violence to themselves and from others has impacted the Jivaroan way of life today. The city of Yaupi, Ecuador is a primarily Jivaro village that has become more modern. This village is safer …show more content…
I will take the tourist bus called Touris San Francisco Oriental Bus from Quito to Yaupi, Ecudor, which is a part of the Jivaro region. Taking a tourist bus is a safer form of transportation to the town instead of a regular bus. The bus drive will cost twenty dollars and take about 9 hours. The best time to conduct this study will be in between June and November because of the low water season. It will still rain, but it will not rain as much as other months. The town and trails will be easier to walk through without all the flooding of the high-water season; December to May. I will need to be prepared with different equipment to reside in the community for a long amount of time. I will stick to basic clothing, and nothing flashy to make the villagers uncomfortable. Light pants, shorts, and shirts will be the most logical to bring due to warm humid weather. Hiking boots will also be important because I will be walking around the village a lot to learn about the village. Rain gear and water-repellent backpack will also be vital because there will be rain. I should keep everything in Ziploc bags in case of flooding’s. I need to bring first aid kit that has insect repellent, stomach medication, and fever medication. Because I have lived with purified water all my life, for my own safety I will bring water purification tablets in case of problems with the local water. More …show more content…
When I departure, I may expect gifts to be given to me because of the importance of gifts in the Jivaro villages such as food made from the gardens. I will give gifts to the host family even if gifts will not be given to me. I can make special pottery that could be useful to them in the future. Once I depart the purpose of my researching there will be published in a research book to discuss the reputation of Jivaro violence. Before I have started the study, I will have sought approval for this book’s personal use and publication to be sent to other anthropologists to understand one Jivaro community better. After publication, intention is mail about 10 copies because of the low population in the village. The book will be translated into Spanish, and for those who can understand the book will explain and discuss the book in their native language. The host family I stayed with will be top priority to obtaining the book because they will be the ones I acquire the most information from. I would hope for their approval and the Jivaro community of Yaupi, Ecuador’s approval to bring light of their past violence and how they address it